Scoot Henderson is ‘ready to embrace’ leading the Portland Trail Blazers after Damian Lillard issued a trade request.
Lillard has been linked with a move from the Trail Blazers for years, but the seven-time All-Star had decided to stay in order to achieve success with the team that drafted him sixth overall in 2012. He has been with the franchise for 11 years and dreamed of helping it win its first championship since 1977.
The 32-year-old has seven All-NBA nominations to his name but has not won a championship, which had fuelled the rumours surrounding a potential exit. On Saturday, he officially requested a trade away from Portland.
While the news is undoubtedly demoralising for the Trail Blazers, Henderson - their first-round pick in the 2023 NBA Draft - is ready to step up. When asked about the possibility of replacing Lillard as the face of the franchise, the rookie said: “I’m ready to embrace that.”
He revealed he would be keen to play alongside the guard, adding: “I’d love to play with him. We have a great relationship. But whatever happens, happens.”
Henderson - the youngest American player in history to ever go pro when he joined the Ignite in the G League at age 17 - is a point guard who can fly past defenders in transition or half-court sets due to his speed, while he can also create shots for himself and facilitate others. He will be an important piece for Portland going forwards, joining a backcourt that also features Shaedon Sharpe and Anfernee Simons.
Henderson averaged 16.5 points, 5.4 rebounds and 6.5 assists over 19 regular season games this past season for the Ignite. He also averaged 16.5 points, 4.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists in 17 games over the past two seasons in Showcase Cup games, the G League's in-season tournament.
The premier players in Blazers history - Bill Walton, Clyde Drexler, Brandon Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge and Lillard - have all been first-round picks; Henderson could take the baton from Lillard, lead the franchise as a perennial All-Star or All-NBA calibre player and join that list.
The Blazers could also add young talent to their roster through a Lillard trade The superstar guard is unlikely to be moved for anything less than a huge haul of players or picks, while also giving their young guards important minutes to develop.
Portland general manager Joe Cronin sounded resigned to losing Lillard, telling reporters: “We have been clear that we want Dame here but he notified us today he wants out and he'd prefer to play someplace else. What has not changed for us is that we're committed to winning, and we are going to do what's best for the team in pursuit of that goal.”
