The Chicago Bulls can afford to gamble at this stage of their rebuild. Helping the Portland Trail Blazers untangle their guard rotation by acquiring Scoot Henderson would be worth a roll of the dice.
Portland made one of the more shocking moves of an offseason full of them when it acquired Ja Morant from the Memphis Grizzlies. (How's that for a reclamation project?)
Now, the Blazers are stocked with four starting-caliber point guards in Morant, Henderson, Damian Lillard and Jrue Holiday. No matter what new head coach Micah Nori says, those are some ball-dominant mouths to feed.
Henderson is the most logical choice to fade out of that rotation, given the underwhelming start to his NBA career. The Bulls should be waiting with their arms — and some low-stress developmental minutes — wide open.
The Bulls should call the Portland Trail Blazers about Scoot Henderson
Kicking the tires on a player like Henderson is the kind of buy-low move Chicago needs to be making right now.
The former G League Ignite star has had an up-and-down first three seasons in the league after being taken third overall in the 2023 draft. Still, he's only 22 years old and carries the pedigree of a prospect who was mentioned in a tier just below Victor Wembanyama.
Injuries and inconsistent playing time have contributed to Henderson's disappointing career thus far. At times, he's looked every bit the franchise point guard the Blazers were expecting. At others, he's looked like he's way in over his head.
Over the final 20 games of his rookie season, Scoot averaged 16.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, 7.1 assists and 1.3 steals. He bumped his 3-point shooting percentage from 32.5 to a respectable 35.4 in his second year and was poised for a significant role last season.
But he tore his hamstring in September, didn't return until Feb. 6 and only played in 30 regular-season games. His numbers were decent — he scored 31 points and hit five threes in the Blazers' lone playoff win over Wembanyama and the Spurs — but his growth as a point guard was stunted.
Still, those same attributes that made him look like a future star — strength, explosiveness, acceleration, playmaking off the drive — are still there. His 3-point stroke was developing.
Oddly, for a guard who can get to the basket, Henderson is terribly inefficient at the rim. He's too turnover-prone. But he's also only played 158 NBA games and is trying to learn basketball's most complicated position.
Bulls could trade for Henderson when his value is lowest
Henderson is entering the final year of his rookie deal and will make $13.6 million in 2026-27. The Trail Blazers, or any team that acquires him, will have to decide how to manage a contract extension next summer.
But as a true buy-low candidate, he wouldn't break the bank for the Bulls. Perhaps Tre Jones, Isaac Okoro and a few second-round picks — potentially a heavily protected first — could get a move across the finish line.
It's the perfect time for a gamble like this.
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