Scoot Henderson has been the most polarizing player on the Portland Trail Blazers roster for the past two seasons. Henderson has been wildly inconsistent, which is to be expected of someone who is just 20 years old. But Blazers fans are eager to know what exactly they have in their former No. 3 overall pick, as he will be a key piece in determining the success of Portland's rebuild.
Henderson is an enigma that is difficult to figure out. At times, he looks like the most promising player on their entire roster, utilizing his elite athleticism and ballhandling to finish at the rim over a bigger defender. The next possession, he's getting lost defensively, chucking up a reckless shot, or forcing an unnecessary pass.
Scoot Henderson believes Blazers will be a top team pretty soon
It's all part of the growing pains, especially since guards typically take longer to develop and adjust to the NBA. The good news is Portland has all the time in the world, as they have no playoff aspirations anytime soon. But if you ask Henderson, he thinks this Blazers core is poised to be "one of the top teams in the league pretty soon," he said in an interview with Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.
"I think we’ll pan out to be one of the top teams in the league pretty soon with the young core that we have and the dogs on our team. You’ve got Donovan Clingan, who’s shown little glimpses of what he can do, and Shaedon (Sharpe). I try to get those guys the ball, and I try to do my thing. My main thing is getting guys the ball, letting them rock out, and letting the world see their talent. I’m trying to be a leader on and off the floor and get to know the guys a little bit more. I think we’re a core that plays hard and is going to shock a lot of teams throughout the season."
The timing of this article while the Blazers are in the midst of a four-game losing streak, where they have lost by an average margin of 19.75 points, doesn't inspire confidence in Henderson's claim. During the season, Portland sits at 8-16 with a point differential of -9.6, which is the third worst in the league.
What has to happen for the Blazers to take that giant leap?
Many fortunate things must align for the Blazers to jump from an 8-16 team with no All-Star on their roster to a team that is one of the top in the league. It will be hard enough to even make the playoffs in the loaded Western Conference in the coming seasons and, nonetheless, be a top team.
Still, the Houston Rockets proved that things can turn around quickly in the NBA, going from a 22-60 record in 2022-23 to 16-8 this season. So, how can Portland become the next Houston? For starters, their two players with the highest upside -- Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe -- need to take that next leap to become go-to players.
Both have shown flashes at times, especially Sharpe, who is leading the team in points per game at 17.4. Still, they need to put it all together more consistently and figure out how to utilize their skillset and athleticism to impact winning at a high level. Henderson needs to improve his shooting, playmaking, and defense, while the primary make-or-break skill for Sharpe's development will be his three-point shooting. He's already an underrated playmaker but is shooting just 28.3 percent from beyond the arc.
It will be an uphill battle for the Blazers' offense if their backcourt of the future can't be at least league average from three. Portland already has elite role players who can get it done on the defensive end, headlined by Donovan Clingan, Toumani Camara, and Deni Avdija. Besides Avdija, their offensive games are limited and reliant on being set up by teammates for the most part.
There's a reason Portland has the third-worst offensive rating in the league at 106.4, as their lack of playmaking and three-point shooting is a recipe for disaster. Hopefully, they can address those concerning offensive issues internally through the development of Scoot and Sharpe and externally through trades or the draft.
The 2025 NBA Draft has several game-changing prospects, including Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper, and Ace Bailey. It will play a massive role in the trajectory of their rebuild, which is why this upcoming Feb. 6 trade deadline is so crucial.
Portland's 8-16 record is seventh worst in the league, giving them just a 7.5 percent chance of securing the No. 1 overall pick and a 31.9 percent chance of landing in the top four. It's imperative that GM Joe Cronin trades away some of their key veteran players who are contributing to too many wins. But even then, the Blazers' odds of landing a top pick will be slim.
Ultimately, this claim primarily comes down to the development of Henderson and Sharpe. The latter has shown enough to inspire confidence in his All-Star potential going forward. It's going to be up to Henderson to back up his claim.
The Blazers' rebuild will go as far as Henderson takes it, which is a concerning thought given his play this season. But Scoot still has plenty of time to turn things around. It's unrealistic expectations for the Blazers, but it's not surprising that he said it, as Henderson also has high expectations for himself to help lead the Blazers to get to that point.
When asked whether he keeps "tabs on Victor Wembanyama and Brandon Miller," the two players selected ahead of him in the 2023 NBA Draft, Henderson responded, "I want to be one of the best in the league. I don't want to be one of the best young guys. That's my goal."