If Trail Blazers Don't Trade Scoot Henderson, It’s Time to Pay Him
· Yahoo Sports
The Portland Trail Blazers have seemingly decided that having too many guards isn't actually a problem.
Ja Morant, Damian Lillard, Jrue Holiday, Shaedon Sharpe and Scoot Henderson are all expected to enter training camp on Micah Nori's roster, with Portland reportedly believing it can make the overcrowded group work.
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That's certainly one way to handle it.
But if the Blazers are committed to keeping Henderson despite acquiring another ball-dominant point guard in Morant, then it's time to prove they remain equally committed to his future.
Henderson is eligible to sign a rookie-scale extension until Oct. 19, the day before the 2026-27 regular season begins. If the two sides don't reach an agreement, he'll make $13.6 million in the final year of his rookie contract before entering restricted free agency next summer.
Bleacher Report's Eric Pincus recently predicted that Henderson and Portland won't agree to a new deal.
The logic is understandable.
Henderson missed more than half of last season after tearing his left hamstring during a preseason workout, limiting him to 30 regular-season appearances.
He averaged 14.2 points, 3.7 assists and 2.7 rebounds while shooting 41.8% from the field and 35.2% from beyond the arc.
Those numbers don't exactly scream extension priority.
His playoff performance, however, offered a reminder of why Portland selected him third overall in 2023.
Henderson averaged 15.0 points during the Blazers' first-round loss to San Antonio while shooting 47.5% from the field and 46.4% from three. That included a 31-point performance in Portland's Game 2 victory.
The flashes remain ... and so does the uncertainty.
That's precisely why an extension could make sense now.
Henderson hasn't produced enough to command anything close to the five-year, $251 million maximum available to members of his draft class. His injury history and diminished role behind Morant also limit his leverage.
Henderson hasn't produced enough to command anything close to the five-year, $251 million maximum available to members of his draft class. His injury history and diminished role behind Morant also limit his leverage.
Projecting his next contract isn't exactly straightforward.
NBA salary-cap analyst Yossi Gozlan listed Henderson among the few extension-eligible players for whom he couldn't establish a firm estimate, while another analysis suggested a deal resembling the four-year, $90 million extension Portland gave Sharpe.
That range would allow Henderson to secure substantial long-term money before navigating another crowded season.
For Portland, it would lock in a 22-year-old former top-three pick at a price that could become increasingly team-friendly if his development continues.
Obviously, there is a risk.
Henderson could remain inconsistent, struggle to stay healthy or never receive enough touches to become the player Portland originally envisioned.
But the Blazers are already accepting those risks by keeping him.
Allowing Henderson to enter a contract year behind Morant, Lillard and Holiday creates an awkward evaluation process. Portland would be asking him to prove his value while constructing a rotation that may prevent him from doing so.
If another team values Henderson more highly, trade him while his age and pedigree still carry meaningful weight.
If Portland genuinely believes this collection of guards can coexist ... invest in the youngest point guard of the group before that belief becomes significantly more expensive.