The Portland Trail Blazers selected point guard Scoot Henderson with the No. 3 pick in the 2023 NBA draft Thursday night in New York.
Although the Blazers still could trade Henderson, for now it appears that Blazers general manager Joe Cronin was unable to find a trade partner to offer him the type of star player he deemed worth of moving the pick.
Now the watch begins on how Damian Lillard will react to the selection of Henderson, 19, who plays his position.
Flipping the lottery pick for a proven NBA veteran star had been the goal when the Blazers elected to tank the rest of the season in March.
Lillard, following the season, made it clear that he wanted to see the Blazers acquire veteran players who could help him get the franchise back on track after consecutive losing seasons.
Help could still come in other ways. The Blazers have the No. 23 pick and No. 43 pick in this draft, plus assets in Anfernee Simons, Jusuf Nurkic and Nassir Little to dangle in trade talks.
But keeping the third pick is a clear indication that Cronin seeks to continue striking the delicate balance of trying to win now while also holding on to players with bright futures.
Cronin admitted that doing as much is difficult to pull off. He also said at the end of the season that he blamed himself for the roster lacking veteran depth last season to better absorb injuries to Jusuf Nurkic and Justise Winslow.
Yet, as of right now, Cronin has added a teenager to the roster who will more than likely need time to develop before he can make a major impact on winning.
That was the case for Shaedon Sharpe, selected last year No. 7 pick. He had a spectacular season from a highlight standpoint but made enough mistakes to find himself on the bench in important moments.
FILE – NBA G League Ignite’s Scoot Henderson dunks against the Boulogne-Levallois Metropolitans 92 during the first half of an exhibition basketball game Oct. 4, 2022, in Henderson, Nev. Henderson is among the top guards in the upcoming NBA draft. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)AP
The same should be expected for Henderson.
However, the end game here has Henderson and Sharpe potentially leading the franchise into the post-Lillard era.
Henderson, despite his youth, will bring a lot to the court for the Blazers. He is explosive, has elite scoring and playmaking ability, embraces being a good defender and an NBA-ready physique.
He spent last season with the G League Ignite where he averaged 17.6 points, 6.6 assists and 5.1 rebounds. His weakness is shooting. He shot just 42.9% from the field last season while hitting on just 27.5% on threes. But is projected to develop into a quality shooter. In the meantime, Henderson should prove to be difficult to keep out of the paint and from going to the basket with his combination of quickness and strength.
“They’re getting a dog,” Henderson said on ESPN when asked what the Blazers were getting in him.
But will he have enough bite in time to help Lillard win. Or could the selection of Henderson cause Lillard to seek a trade?
— Aaron Fentress | afentress@Oregonian.com | @AaronJFentress (Twitter), @AaronJFentress (Instagram), @AaronFentress (Facebook). Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts
