Trail Blazers Host G League Ignite's Scoot Henderson. Can He Play With Damian Lillard?

Henderson is the most-hyped non-Victor Wembanyama prospect in the 2023 NBA Draft.

TUALATIN, Ore. — The Trail Blazers hosted their most significant workout yet in the predraft process on Saturday morning: a solo visit G League Ignite guard Scoot Henderson.

Henderson's workout was the second the Blazers have done with someone who may be in play with the No. 3 overall pick, following the back-to-back solo workouts of Overtime Elite twin brothers Amen and Ausar Thompson earlier this week. Most draft evaluators view Henderson as the second-most talented player in the draft class next to Victor Wembanyama, but word persists in league circles that Charlotte may opt to take Alabama's Brandon Miller with the second pick.

That will put the Blazers in an interesting position. Having the consensus second-best player in the draft fall to them at the third pick is a great spot to be in, but it gets complicated when that player is a 6-foot-2 point guard. Portland has one of those already, and it's their all-time franchise leading scorer, who is putting more pressure on the organization and front office than ever to make win-now upgrades.

The conventional wisdom around the NBA since the lottery has been that the Blazers will look to trade the third pick to veteran help, and that may still happen if the right deal presents itself. But Joe Cronin and his front office have been operating in recent weeks as though they're comfortable keeping the pick unless someone blows them away with an offer. They're one of two teams, along with the Hornets, that Henderson is granting an in-person workout before the draft. Presumably, Miller will do the same between now and June 22.

Damian Lillard was in attendance for Henderson's workout, just as he was earlier in the week to watch the Thompson brothers' sessions. This was Henderson's first time meeting Lillard in person, although the two had exchanged texts dating back to 2021, when Henderson reached out to ask for advice as he prepared to jump from high school to the G League.

If the Blazers do keep the pick and take Henderson, the question will be a familiar one from the past decade, first with C.J. McCollum and now with Anfernee Simons: is there a ceiling for a backcourt consisting of Lillard and another undersized guard? It's not an apples-to-apples comparison—Henderson isn't nearly as good a shooter as either McCollum or Simons, but his finishing and playmaking upside is higher than either of them, and he has a reputation as a tough defender.

"Those guys have different games than me," Henderson said Saturday after his workout. "Anywhere I go, I think I can fit in. That's the beauty about me, being Scoot Henderson. I'm gonna give it 110 percent effort every time. I'm an attacker, I'm a facilitator, I can do a lot of things on the floor."

There's only so we know about what he looked like on the court on Saturday, but Henderson has the media part of this down cold. He's polished and not in any way lacking in confidence.

"You always want a guy like me," he said. "That dog mentality. Just my personality, the culture I bring to the locker room. I'm a great leader. I tell people what's up. I can do everything on the floor."

The intel on Henderson for months has been that he's completely ready to be a franchise player, when it comes to those things. His reputation as a great teammate and hard worker has been consistent in his two years with the Ignite. Someone, be it the Hornets or Blazers or another team that trades up into the top three, is going to be very happy to bring him into their organization.

The question, if that team winds up being Portland, will be in how Henderson plays with Lillard.

He doesn't think it will be an issue.

"I love watching Dame's game," Henderson said. "I love watching film on him. I think we just link. He's an off-the-dribble shooter, catch-and-shoot shooter, he can drive to the basket, he can do a lot of different things. He can pass, he can lead at a high level. I think I can do those things as well, there are just areas where I'm faster, just because I've got younger legs. Little things like that."