• The Blazers drafted Scoot Henderson No. 3 overall instead of trading the pick to build around Damian Lillard
• This move prompted Lillard to ask out as the team was heading in a younger direction
• Henderson says his relationship with Dame hasn’t been impacted by the trade demand towering over the franchise
The Portland Trail Blazers are stuck between the past and the future, and it’s impacting their present. Franchise cornerstone Damian Lillard is looking to leave the team this summer and join the Miami Heat after the team drafted his long-term replacement in Scoot Henderson.
Despite the tense vibes in the Blazers locker room with Lillard wanting to leave, Henderson claims Dame has been great whenever they’ve interacted.
“I feel like our relationship is really cool. It’s mutual. I have seen him a couple of times and It’s all love. Dame is just the type of person to be real at all times. Any situation that happens, it’s not going to change our relationship. If I do need somebody, big bro, I’ll still hit him and be like what’s up, or Steph. There’s never any bad vibes between us and the organization.”
"I feel like our relationship is really cool… It's all love… Any situation that happens, it's not going to change our relationship. If I do need somebody, big bro, I'll still hit him [up]."
Scoot Henderson on Damian Lillard 🗣
(via @orlandokgw)pic.twitter.com/clnTVGSF2o https://t.co/lVnGZpW3BM
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) September 19, 2023
The Blazers can start rebuilding around a young core of Scoot, Anfernee Simons, and Shaedon Sharpe, but nothing will be final until Lillard is traded. They may get back valuable young pieces to also factor into the rotation.
Regardless, it seems pretty clear that Scoot is the future of this franchise and will hope to replace a franchise legend like Lillard as their primary option.
Scoot Henderson Received Fantastic Advice From Damian Lillard
Even if Lillard doesn’t want to play with the Blazers, he and Henderson are teammates for the time being. Lillard hasn’t shirked his responsibilities as a leader and has given the young star crucial advice on how to not be overcome by challenging moments on the court, especially when it comes to shooting game-winning shots.
“I think one huge piece of advice, I asked him a year ago, he was saying that ‘don’t worry about the last shot.’ I asked him about how to get over that hump because I was going through a slump at that time. He said don’t worry about the last shot, it’s the next shot, you’re here for a reason. That stuck with me forever and now I’ve gotten better at it.”
Henderson averaged 16.5 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 6.5 assists last season with the G League Ignite. He was projected to be the No. 2 pick behind Victor Wembanyama for most of the season until Brandon Miller surpassed him towards the end and got drafted by the Hornets. The Blazers will be in rebuild mode after a Dame trade, so this may be the best situation for Scoot to continue developing his game.
Damian Lillard Respects Scoot Henderson
Lillard may not have been thrilled to see the No. 3 pick be used to draft his replacement instead of being traded away for someone like Pascal Siakam. Nonetheless, he has no ill feelings towards Scoot or the Blazers for that decision given it’s the one that made the most basketball sense.
“Me and Scoot, we have had a few conversations since he’s come into the league. That wasn’t a dealbreaker for me at all. I respect his game. I think in that position, he was the best player available. That’s what you gotta do if you get the pick. I wasn’t offended at all.”
"That wasn't a dealbreaker for me at all. I respect his game. I think in that position, he was the best player available… I wasn't offended at all."
Damian Lillard on if the Blazers drafting Scoot Henderson was a dealbreaker.pic.twitter.com/A3EikEmczC
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) September 19, 2023
Getting the best haul possible for Dame is also the decision that makes the most sense for the Blazers, as the assets they get will one day help them build a contender around their young core. However, the Heat are unwilling and unable to give anything worth a lot of value, which is holding his trade saga up as we’re just two weeks away from the start of training camp.
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