Scoot Henderson has shown flashes in his first two seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers, but can he put it all together and become their starting point guard? The 2025-26 season is likely his last chance to do so in Portland.
It's becoming clearer that the Blazers' core pieces are Deni Avdija, Toumani Camara, and Donovan Clingan, but their backcourt remains an unsolved equation. Henderson must take that next leap in year three to prove to the Blazers that he's their long-term solution.
Portland may give him the keys to start the season, depending on what they do with Anfernee Simons this summer. Aaron Fentress of _The Oregonian_ said the likelihood of Simons being traded in the offseason [is a toss-up](https://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2025/05/will-anfernee-simons-lead-portland-back-to-playoffs-trail-blazers-season-reviewlook-ahead.html) and largely depends on their confidence in Henderson.
If Simons isn't traded away, this could be Scoot's final audition to fully earn that trust; otherwise, there's a chance that the Blazers take their starting point guard duties in another direction, whether it's giving Simons a new contract, drafting his potential replacement, or even making him available in a trade.
Where does Scoot Henderson fit into the Blazers' rebuild?
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The Blazers' rebuild is unique in that their trades of Avdija and Camara were such steals that their timeline was accelerated quicker than anticipated. They have playoff aspirations for next season, which is exciting for fans who have endured four long seasons.
However, the downside is that players like Henderson, who was a No. 3 overall pick not too long ago, have more pressure to show significant improvements sooner rather than later. That gets even more challenging when considering the guard position typically takes the longest to adjust to at the NBA level.
Scoot's stats were similar in his first two seasons, but he was a completely different player. Instead of having historically bad games, such as his -58 plus/minus, which was the worst in NBA history, he was impacting winning at a much higher level in his second season. Henderson improved in several aspects, including his pace of play, defense, finishing, shooting, and overall decision-making.
Those improvements were promising, but they weren't consistent or linear enough for the Blazers to definitively say that Henderson is their answer at point guard.
Adding another layer of complexity is the fact that [this is now Avdija's team](https://ripcityproject.com/deni-avdija-blazers-building-block-obvious-reason). He's taken on an increased playmaking role as a point forward, oftentimes initiating the offense. Henderson's usage rate decreased from 26.5 to 22.5, which could become problematic, considering he's at his best with the ball in his hands as a lead guard.
The Blazers need to revolve their roster construction around Avdija's strengths as a jumbo playmaker. They need a guard who can complement him with secondary playmaking and reliable floor spacing. Simons is currently the better fit for that offensively, so it's up to Henderson to prove he can adapt to that role.
It's a lot to ask of a 21-year-old guard still trying to find his footing in the league, let alone in the Blazers' evolving offense. But those expectations come with being a top draft pick and the player Portland has invested in more than anyone else.
The Blazers are entering the next phase of their rebuild, and it's on Henderson to grow with them. Otherwise, he risks getting left behind and could quickly find himself on the outside looking in.