NBA Notes: Blazers, Scoot Henderson, Rockets, Kevin Durant, Bulls

Trail Blazers

Could Scoot Henderson eventually become the odd man out in the Trail Blazers’ suddenly crowded backcourt?

Jeremy Brener of NBA on SI explored that possibility, noting that Henderson is entering the final season of his rookie contract and can become a restricted free agent next summer.

The former No. 3 overall pick averaged 14.2 points and 3.7 assists in 30 games last season, but his situation has changed considerably. The Blazers now have Ja Morant, along with veterans Damian Lillard and Jrue Holiday, leaving no shortage of players capable of handling the ball.

ESPN’s Zach Kram recently noted that Henderson spent more time off the ball last season, including during Portland’s brief playoff run, when he totaled just six assists in five games while making 13 3-pointers.

Brener suggested that could eventually make Henderson a trade candidate, particularly with Morant looking like Portland’s longer-term answer at point guard.

One hypothetical destination mentioned was Brooklyn, with Brener floating a Henderson-for-Terance Mann framework as a way for Portland to balance its roster.

Nothing indicates such a deal is actually being discussed. But after three uneven and injury-interrupted seasons, Henderson enters Year 4 with his role and long-term future in Portland worth watching.

Rockets

Kevin Durant may be 38 when the season begins, but Rockets on SI isn’t ready to hand over the title of Houston’s best player just yet.

In a staff roundtable, two of four writers picked Durant to remain the Rockets’ top player by season’s end, while the other two went with Amen Thompson.

Durant certainly still has the numbers on his side. He averaged 26.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists last season while shooting 52 percent from the field and 41 percent on 3-pointers.

The argument for Thompson is more about where he might be headed. Entering his fourth season, he has already established himself as one of the NBA’s better perimeter defenders. Another step offensively could put him squarely in star territory.

Alperen Sengun, already a two-time All-Star at 23, was also mentioned as someone capable of eventually taking the mantle.

In other words, Durant may remain Houston’s best player. The Rockets probably wouldn’t mind if one of their young guys makes that statement obsolete.

Bulls

The Bulls have been connected to Nuggets restricted free agent Peyton Watson this summer, but Elias Schuster of Bulls on SI wonders whether Chicago should be looking at two different Denver players.

Namely, Cameron Johnson and Zeke Nnaji.

The thinking is fairly straightforward. Denver faces a potentially enormous tax bill if it re-signs Watson, while Chicago has enough financial flexibility to potentially take on an unwanted contract and demand draft compensation for doing so.

Johnson is owed $23 million on an expiring contract and remains an elite outside shooter, having connected on 43 percent of his threes last season. Schuster suggested Chicago could take him on if Denver were willing to attach a protected first-round pick, then potentially flip Johnson again at the trade deadline.

Nnaji would be more of a straight salary dump. He averaged 3.7 points and 2.6 rebounds last season and has two years remaining on his contract, including a $7.5 million player option for 2027-28.

Again, these are ideas, not reported trade talks.

But Denver’s financial squeeze is real, and Chicago has positioned itself to capitalize if a team becomes willing to pay for some salary relief.