Trail Blazers second year point Scoot Henderson exploded for 39 points against the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday night, showcasing the potential that made him such a highly-touted prospect. Henderson’s breakout performance included an impressive 8-of-10 shooting from beyond the arc.
It was, in fact, one game. An 18-point loss to a bad Nets team no less. But a game like this demands a similar question the Blazers roster is constantly posing: What’s The Plan Here?
Henerson is inconsistent, imperfect and unfinished. But he’s also stuck as a backup on the current roster with no clear path to earn a starting role. To be clear, he hasn’t played well enough to deserve consistent starter minutes. But deserve, as the philosopher Felicia “Snoop” Pearson put it, has got nothing to do with it.
The inconsistency from Henderson is typical for young players, but it also highlights the challenges the Blazers face in their backcourt situation. What isn’t typical is a roster of a lottery team not making space for a No. 3 overall pick to play unlimited minutes and learn by failing with no one directly in his way.
The presence of Anfernee Simons complicates matters. Simons has been the more consistent and productive player this season, but his long-term fit alongside Henderson remains questionable. The Blazers find themselves at a crossroads, waffling between whether to fully commit to Henderson as their point guard of the future or continue with their current approach.
My stance remains unchanged: the Blazers should explore trading Simons, regardless of Henderson’s performance. The team needs to add more high-level talent, and holding onto Simons may not solve their long-term issues. Trading him likely won’t either. But even is Henderson turns into a complete bust, holding onto Simons won’t help the Blazers long term plan.
It’s time to move on from Simons regardless of Henderson’s production and potential. They Blazers made a choice when they drafted Henderson No. 3 overall. It’s time to commit to that vision even if it fails. Because getting stuck in inaction is worse than missing on a draft pick. Doing both is a death sentence.
For more insights and a deeper dive into the Blazers’ backcourt situation, tune into the Locked On Blazers podcast for this and much more.
Other Topics in Today’s Locked On Blazers Podcast
• Detailed injury update on Donovan Clingan
• Analysis of Scoot Henderson’s career-high performance
• Discussion on the Blazers’ roster construction and potential trades
