The Portland Trail Blazers have seven players with a strong case to start in the 2025-26 season. As of now, the only locks appear to be Deni Avdija, Toumani Camara, and Donovan Clingan. With Jrue Holiday, Scoot Henderson, Shaedon Sharpe, and Jerami Grant remaining as viable options, head coach Chauncey Billups has a difficult decision to make for the final two spots.
One of those final starting spots should go to Scoot Henderson.
Evaluating Scoot Henderson must be Blazers' top priority in 2025-26
Zach Lowe and Howard Beck recently made the case for the Blazers to start Henderson on The Zach Lowe Show. The two primary reasons are that Portland lacks playmakers and, most importantly, they need to gain more clarity surrounding Henderson's development.
"I know Portland has some ambitions of hanging in the play-in race and getting in the play-in race next year. I think you have to hand the keys to Scoot," Lowe said. "With Dame coming next year, Simons gone, Sharpe is obviously more of an off-ball player, and so is Jrue, and so is Grant. Well, Grant is a little bit more of a hybrid. He likes the ball, maybe more than he should. I just want to hand the keys to Scoot and see what it is because there's something here, and I have to see what it is if I'm the Blazers."
"You can't pick a direction as a franchise until you know you have a north star to build around. He needs to be it. And if he's not, you need to know that. So yes, I think this is the time," Beck added.
It's a difficult balancing act for the Blazers. On one hand, they need to continue being patient with Henderson as a point guard takes the longest amount of time to adjust to. On the other hand, they have a self-created problem. Relative to typical rebuilding teams, Portland has a higher sense of urgency. They are chasing a play-in spot with a puzzling roster construction, bringing in aging star guards Holiday and Damian Lillard.
But with Lillard likely out for the entire 2025-26 season, this is a prime opportunity for the Blazers to throw Henderson in the fire and see if he has what it takes to become the star they can build around. It's possible that Henderson may not be a primary ballhandler in the NBA, but it's time to find out. That clarity is much more important for the Blazers' long-term outlook than chasing any shortsighted play-in goal.