The Portland Trail Blazers’ roster maneuvering did not end with the Toumani Camara and Shaedon Sharpe contract extensions.
The team on Tuesday exercised 2026-27 team options on Scoot Henderson, Kris Murray and Donovan Clingan, general manager Joe Cronin announced, ensuring the trio of young players could remain in Portland for at least two more seasons.
The moves were a formality and came as part of the players’ rookie contracts, representing fourth-year options on Henderson and Murray, and a third-year option on Clingan.
The former first-round picks are pieces of the Blazers’ multiyear rebuild, offering varying degrees of promise for the future.
Clingan, the No. 9 pick of the 2024 NBA draft, has emerged as the Blazers’ starting center and an integral part of the team’s defensive identity heading into his second NBA season. He started 27 of the final 28 games of his rookie season, averaging 8.8 points, 9.9 rebounds and 1.6 blocks, while ranking fifth in the NBA in blocks and eighth in contested two-point field goal attempts (487).
As a result of the standout debut season, the 7-foot-2 center earned NBA All-Rookie Second Team honors.
Henderson, on the other hand, hasn’t delivered on the hype that came with being the No. 3 overall pick of the 2023 NBA draft. But he showed growth last season, averaging 12.7 points, 5.1 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game, and team insiders quietly praised his offseason development over the summer.
But Henderson’s third season ran into a speed bump a week before training camp, when he suffered a left hamstring tear during a volunteer workout. The 6-3 point guard has not played since and the injury was expected to sideline him between four and eight weeks.
The Blazers also selected Murray in the first round of the 2023 draft, with the No. 23 overall pick. The 6-8 forward has not developed into a reliable contributor after two seasons, but he’s played in 131 games, averaging 5.1 points and 3.1 rebounds.
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.