The Trail Blazers Cannot Afford To Pass On Scoot Henderson.

Scoot Henderson impressed in his workout over the weekend for the Portland Trail Blazers (Portland Trail Blazers/YouTube).

By STEVEN VAUGHAN, 750 THE GAME

Scoot Henderson, according to multiple NBA Draft analysts, would usually be the No. 1 overall pick in any draft.

This year is different.

Victor Wembanyama will be the first pick on draft night. Because of this, the Trail Blazers may be in a position where Henderson is available at pick at No. 3.

The Charlotte Hornets have the second pick and will be working out the 19-year-old at some point before the draft. Henderson may indeed end up in Charlotte, but the Hornets still have All-Star point guard LaMelo Ball, on the roster, and many think Alabama wing Brandon Miller is likely their top choice.

Could this mean that the Trail Blazers would draft Henderson with the No. 3 pick if he’s available?

“Damian Lillard is on record. He doesn’t want another young guy,” John Canzano said on 750 The Game. “But is there any way the Blazers can afford not to draft Scoot Henderson if he’s there and he’s available at three?”

Dame and CJ. Dame and Simons. Dame and Scoot?

People wonder if two small-ish guards in the backcourt can work together.

Canzano says that’s not the question you need to be asking about Henderson.

“I keep having people ask me ‘Do you think it works? Damian Lillard and Scoot Henderson, side by side?’ For me, that’s not the question. The question is, can you afford not to take him at No. 3? I think you take him if he’s the best player and if he’s not maybe you have a Brandon Miller question to answer.”

The goal of the franchise should be to win a championship. Canzano says that if Henderson is available, you select him and then figure it out later.

“You take him and you figure out: What is the timeline? Does this work now? How do you make this work in the short term? Is he part of the Blazers long term plans?

“I still don’t think — unless you get a game changing offer for that pick, and I don’t think that’s going to happen at number three in this draft — I think you have to pick him (Henderson).”

The Trail Blazers are in a fascinating situation. Do what the Blazers all-time leading scorer wants to do. Or build for the future and draft a 19 year old guard? The choice is coming soon. The draft is on June 22nd.

Listen to the segment at the 11:25 mark in the podcast below. Catch the Bald Faced Truth with John Canzano weekdays 3-6 p.m. in Portland exclusively on 750 The Game