2023NBA: Scoot Henderson falling what is next

Heading into the 2023 NBA Draft, all intrigue began at the No. 2 spot, where the Charlotte Hornets' decision between Brandon Miller and Scoot Henderson would dictate what the Portland Trail Blazers did at No. 3. 

Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers are trying to reshape themselves into a contender, with the latter viewing the addition of Scoot Henderson, the No. 3 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, as a substantial enhancement. But is the prudent direction for Portland to trade Lillard and rebuild with Henderson, instead of retooling around Lillard?

Lillard is coming off the most productive season of his NBA career. He averaged a career-high 32.2 points and 7.3 assists per game while shooting 46.3/37.1/91.4. Lillard had a 60-point game against the Utah Jazz and a 71-point game against the Houston Rockets. 

As much as Cronin used superlatives to describe his picks, he delivered them with a decidedly hollow and flat tone. 

It doesn’t mean he doesn’t believe what he said — he knows he put some talent into the barn — he just knows the Trail Blazers’ world revolves around Lillard. And that world — from Lillard to the fans — wanted something more than Cronin delivered Thursday. They wanted something bigger, something more immediate, something that would live up to Cronin’s boast in April that he was itching to “go all in” with his chips. 

If that route doesn't net a return that the Blazers, and Lillard, think makes them a real contender, fire up the Dame trade machine, because it's going to get hot. They could move Lillard this summer. They could move him at the trade deadline. Either way, the feeling I'm getting is they will move Lillard before they move Scoot Henderson, and I agree with that assessment. 

It is a long shot that Portland has the goods to bring back a package that makes them a contender without giving up Henderson, and I agree with Cronin on that front. Henderson is just too good to give up for what would still be a super long shot at winning a title. 

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 Sarah H

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