When the Portland Trail Blazers drafted Scoot Henderson in 2023, they believed that they had their point guard of the future and potential franchise player. They ended up trading away Damian Lillard to give the backcourt keys to Henderson.
Henderson had an erratic rookie season, but he showed flashes of his potential from time to time. His athleticism jumped off the page, and his burst off the dribble was also a strength. His second season was much better, as his efficiency rose, and he cut down on his turnovers. However, his season was cut short due to injury.
He was expected to build on this in year 3, but Henderson suffered a torn hamstring during offseason workouts that has clouded his chances of playing this season.
Scoot Henderson still doesn't have a return date
The last update we got about the young Portland point guard was from HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto. Scotto reported two weeks ago that Henderson just started non-contact work and that he would be re-evaluated in two weeks.
While it is encouraging that Henderson has progressed to on-court work, the reality is that we won’t see the guard suit up for the Blazers for a while. The process to return to play after a hamstring injury like that takes a while, and he still has many hurdles to clear, like progressing to contact work, then full-on five-on-five.
We might not see Henderson until after the All-Star break at this rate, and even then, his role in Portland may be unclear. The team has been thriving with Deni Avdija leading the way, as he has built a compelling All-Star case.
Scoot Henderson's Blazers future is in limbo
The fit was also awkward with Henderson and Avdija last season. The team had a -3.7 net rating with them on the floor, but the offense was productive in those minutes (118.0 offensive rating).
It remains to be seen how Henderson will fit in with this current iteration of the Blazers. With Shaedon Sharpe, Jrue Holiday, and Caleb Love now in the mix, Portland’s backcourt is crowded. They have also succeeded without Henderson, as the Blazers are 7-3 in their last ten games.
Hopefully Henderson can make his way back to the floor, but integrating him into a team that has been thriving without him won’t be easy. While it is unlikely they cut ties with Henderson this summer, his long-term future with the Blazers is definitely in question as they enter the next phase of their rebuild.