Could Blazers’ fast start make Scoot Henderson a trade candidate?

The Trail Blazers are winning now. Scoot Henderson is still trying to find his place.

That doesn’t automatically mean a trade is coming. It does create a reasonable question for a team whose expectations could be changing faster than its young guard is developing.

As Ethen Hutton of Sports Illustrated writes, Henderson’s fit is worth examining with Portland off to a 6-1 start and getting significant production from Damian Lillard, Deni Avdija and Donovan Clingan.

Henderson, meanwhile, is averaging 8.7 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.4 assists while shooting 32.8% from the field through seven games. The former No. 3 overall pick is 22 and in the final season of his rookie contract.

Hutton suggests the Blazers could consider using Henderson in a deal for more immediate help, whether that’s in the frontcourt or on the wing. That’s an assessment of their options, rather than a report that Portland is shopping him.

Still, the basketball question is fair. Henderson needs opportunities to handle the ball and work through mistakes. A team leaning on established playmakers and trying to climb the Western Conference standings may have fewer of those opportunities available.

The Blazers also don’t need to rush into anything. Seven games won’t settle Henderson’s future, and a slow start isn’t necessarily the best time to seek a strong return.

Any deal would need to improve what Portland already has going. Moving a young player simply because he hasn’t figured it out yet isn’t much of a plan.

But winning can change a front office’s priorities. If the Blazers keep this up, they’ll have to weigh Henderson’s potential against what another player could provide immediately.

That makes him worth watching. It doesn’t make him someone Portland has to move.

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