Bleacher Report's Zach Buckley recently released a list of 23-and-under NBA players who already need a trade. Buckley mentioned four players: Devin Carter, Keyonte George, Scoot Henderson, and Yves Missi. There's a common thread with these four players as they all have shown flashes but haven't been able to fully unlock that potential due to their relative lack of opportunity -- despite all four playing on rebuilding Western Conference teams.
Sacramento and New Orleans are two of the worst-run franchises in the league, so this certainly isn't a group that Portland wanted to be included in. But to be fair, it's too early to say whether the Blazers are going about Henderson's development correctly.
It's too early to pull the plug on Scoot Henderson
The point guard position historically takes the longest for young players to adjust to. Despite that, Scoot showed significant progress in his second season. He was more efficient as a three-level scorer and a better overall decision maker in terms of his playmaking, shot selection, and pace of play -- letting the game come to him rather than forcing the issue to prove why he was a No. 3 overall pick.
And to Portland's credit, they did swap Anfernee Simons for Jrue Holiday -- a move that will open up more backcourt touches and could result in Henderson's breakout season that Blazers fans have been eagerly waiting for. He also couldn't have a better trio of guard mentors in Chauncey Billups, Holiday, and Damian Lillard.
That said, we understand the case for Henderson to benefit from a change of scenery.
"Portland's ascension coincided with a role reduction for Henderson, who made fewer starts, logged less minutes and handled a smaller usage rate from his rookie season. And maybe the incoming veterans won't be mentors as much as they'll be replacements. The Blazers are surely looking for more than just leadership after taking on the remainder of Holiday's contract (three years, $104.4 million), and it's hard to picture them holding Lillard back should he rediscover his superstar form upon his return from an Achilles tear," Buckley writes.
Buckley is spot on. Henderson hasn't been put in the best position to succeed, which is frustrating considering the Blazers' ceiling largely depends on Henderson unlocking his potential as the team's highest draft pick.
Still, it seems a bit premature to say that Portland isn't an ideal situation for him, especially given the changes made this offseason.
Lillard's gap year and Simons' departure will finally give Henderson a prime opportunity to take over this Blazers backcourt. We should have a more definitive answer to whether a Henderson-Blazers pairing is in the best interest of both parties after this make-or-break season.