Some prematurely wrote Scoot Henderson off as a bust after a rookie season that failed to satisfy sky-high expectations related to being a No. 3 total decide. But now in his third season, we’ve a giant sufficient pattern dimension to say that the Blazers could have, in truth, drafted a bust in 2023.
It’s a positive line as we should proceed to emphasize persistence with a 22-year-old guard nonetheless adjusting to life in the NBA. At the identical time, he is but to indicate substantial progress, suggesting this can be the participant he’s for the rest of his profession.
Blazers could have drafted the bust of the 2023 draft
It’s already turn out to be obvious that Portland’s rebuild would’ve been higher off taking the 2023 draft in another direction. The Thompson twins would’ve been good suits for Portland’s defensive id, whereas different guard choices in the category are having breakout seasons.
Henderson will not return worth on the Blazers’ No. 3 total decide, however now we should redefine expectations for the younger guard. He’s presently averaging a career-low 11.7 factors, 4.3 assists, and a couple of.8 rebounds per sport whereas taking pictures an inefficient 36% from the sector and 23.4% from past the arc.
Henderson continues to be attempting to get again to hurry after a hamstring tear sidelined him for almost all of the season. However, it is also troublesome to provide him the good thing about the doubt, as these points had been prevalent in the previous two seasons previous to harm.
Blazers can now not construct round Scoot Henderson
Henderson nonetheless has a position to play in Portland’s rebuild, however he ought to now not be thought of a building block. This was his time to show that he deserves the keys to the backcourt, and he’s become an afterthought in the offensive hierarchy — even with Deni Avdija and Shaedon Sharpe sidelined.
Portland’s Jrue Holiday helps mitigate the blow as he is giving them far more in the playmaking and shot-creation departments. But that is additionally asking a lot from a 35-year-old guard with an harm historical past.
Henderson cannot be relied on as their place to begin guard of the longer term, which by definition is a bust, as that is nowhere near returning worth to the participant Portland invested in.
He was the one they spent the best draft capital on and the one they basically picked Damian Lillard’s timeline over, with Portland’s famous person requesting a commerce after they drafted his “replacement.” Those had been just about unattainable footwear to fill, however the expectations surrounding Portland’s Henderson decide proceed to shrink by the day.
His on-ball protection, playmaking, and athleticism must be enough to stick around in the league. But till his three-level scoring turns into extra environment friendly and he finds a method to clear up his turnovers, Scoot goes to be nothing however an afterthought in this rebuild.
That’s a drastic decline in simply three seasons, going from the face of the rebuild to an afterthought, however that is the place we’re after two disappointing seasons, adopted up by essentially the most underwhelming stretch of his profession on the most inopportune time.
