Scoot Henderson was widely considered a no-brainer selection for the Portland Trail Blazers. They missed out on a generational talent in Victor Wembanyama by one lottery ball combination. The consolation prize was supposed to make it sting less. Picking No. 3, Portland was set to get Brandon Miller or Henderson, whoever the Charlotte Hornets passed on at No. 2. At the time, that was the end of a second tier of prospects. Not quite on the level of Wemby, but potential franchise cornerstones to build around.
Miller has looked promising in Charlotte, but unfortunately, the same can't be said for Henderson's time in Portland.
Blazers still don't know what they have in Scoot Henderson
Scoot had a historically bad rookie season, giving Portland's front office legitimate concerns as he struggled in virtually every facet of the game. Decision-making was questionable as he forced the issue too much. That bled into his entire game, whether it was turnovers, defensive lapses, or shooting inefficiency. His finishing left much to be desired, while his jumper remained a work in progress -- an issue compounded by a questionable shot diet.
To Henderson's credit, he's improved in several of these key areas. His on-ball defense has been encouraging, and he's clearly benefited from the addition of Jrue Holiday. Offensively, his three-point shot is concerning, but he's playing much more under control and finishing around the rim more consistently.
Although it hasn't been as quick or as linear as Blazers fans would've hoped, there's been progress, and he continues to trend upwards. That's really all you can ask for from a 22-year-old guard, despite not reaching any lofty expectations he had entering the league.
2023 class makes Portland's pick look even worse
At the same time, Portland absolutely has to be second-guessing its draft decision. They shouldn't have picked him, but they can continue investing in him and being patient with his development. Both things can be true.
Some of that draft regret doesn't stem from Henderson's play, but rather the opportunity cost of who Portland could've added to their young core instead. Members of the 2023 class are now in their third season, meaning players are separating themselves from the rest of the class with breakout campaigns.
The Thompson twins' defensive impact has been apparent since entering the league. But after those selections, there are a few guards in particular who have taken their game to another level this season.
Anthony Black is quietly having a strong season that's flying under the radar, averaging a well-rounded 15.7 points, 3.9 assists, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game in Orlando.
Keyonte George belongs in the Most Improved Player conversation with the offense he's provided Utah, averaging 23.9 points, 6.4 assists, and 3.8 rebounds while shooting 37.3% from downtown.
Cason Wallace has already proven to be a key contributor to a championship team.
We're not selling our Scoot stock just yet. But there's an increased sense of urgency for him to show enough for Portland to feel comfortable about him being their long-term solution at the point guard position. It's like when you take a test and have that horrible feeling in the pit of your stomach as everyone else around you turns in their paper way before you're even close to being done. It makes you second-guess how the test is going for you, or provides further confirmation that it's not going well.
Other teams around the league are already reaping the benefits of their first-round selections in the 2023 draft. Meanwhile, Portland is left to wonder what they even have in Scoot. While we must remain patient, it's not exactly where the Blazers wanted to be after spending their No. 3 pick on him.