Scoot Henderson might be running out of time to prove himself worthy of staying with the Portland Trail Blazers long-term. However, if he can continue being an efficient finisher at the rim, he can likely carve a role as a change-of-pace scorer off the bench. Now, some fans probably aren't keen on the idea of a former No. 3 overall pick ending up as a reserve, but perhaps it's time to stop expecting he can be a starting-caliber player anytime soon.
Sure, the 22-year-old guard has had plenty of disappointing performances this season, and his shooting efficiency through three seasons in the NBA has left a lot to be desired. It also didn't help his reputation grow when he had to miss the Blazers' first 51 games after sustaining a torn hamstring in the offseason.
There's a silver lining, though, as Henderson had connected on 75.0 percent of his shots from within three feet of the basket (before Portland's loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday). That efficiency is probably not sustainable, but if he can somehow maintain it around that range and continue to develop his slashing abilities, he could provide the squad with another weapon on offense.
Scoot's road to becoming a starter is bumpy
Blazers fans don't need reminding that Portland selected Henderson ahead of four prospects who have developed into worthy starters.
Amen Thompson has looked like a future star and already has an All-Defensive First Team nod under his belt. Ausar Thompson has turned into a defensive ace for the Eastern Conference's best team. Anthony Black has not just been one of the league's most exciting dunkers but has also helped keep the Orlando Magic afloat this campaign. Bilal Coulibaly has given Washington Wizards fans a reason to be excited about the squad's future.
Meanwhile, Henderson has not lived up to the hype that surrounded him when the Blazers drafted him in 2023. He has provided them with little reason to promote him back to the starting lineup.
Perhaps it's time to accept that Henderson just isn't fit to be the starting point guard in Portland. It seems Deni Avdija, Shaedon Sharpe, Toumani Camara, and Donovan Clingan have already locked the four other spots moving forward. His subpar playmaking skills and even worse outside shooting might make him the inauspicious choice as the starting floor general.
Waiting on Scoot's progress
The problem with simply accepting Henderson coming off the bench is that the franchise has few options beyond him on the roster. Jrue Holiday has been solid, and Damian Lillard will likely take on a starting role next season. However, both are turning 36 this offseason and have dealt with several bouts with the injury bug throughout their careers.
A solution could come in the 2026 draft, as there are several top-flight point guard prospects in the coming draft class. Some might argue that the Blazers' using their first-round pick this summer on a playmaker might be a waste, given that they already have Henderson. But what can they do if he is unable to develop as expected?
The good news is that he has shown the potential to be a scoring threat for the second unit. Let's not forget that he also has the tools to become a defensive menace and thereby an impactful two-way guard. If the Georgia native can blossom in that role, he can still justify the Blazers' faith in him when they brought him in three years ago.