NBA Notes: Suns, Jalen Green, Blazers, Scoot Henderson, Raptors, Brandon Ingram

Suns

Suns newcomers Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks are landing in Phoenix with something to prove. And they’re not hiding it.

Each spoke openly about the blockbuster trade that sent them from Houston to Phoenix in exchange for Kevin Durant, with both players embracing the opportunity and using it as fuel.

“I love the trade. It gives me and Jalen an opportunity,” Brooks said, via Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic, prompting Green to quickly add, “Motivation.”

Green admitted the trade was emotional. The Rockets selected him with the No. 2 overall pick in 2021, and he became one of the team’s cornerstones during the rebuild.

“It hurts. Houston is home to me and forever will be home to me,” Green said. “I started my NBA career there and built a lot there… obviously it was sad to leave, but it’s a business.”

The 22-year-old guard already has his sights set on building chemistry with Devin Booker, who recently agreed to a long-term extension to stay in Phoenix.

“We’re two people who are going to be able to accept the double team and play off each other,” Green said. “We’re two people who know how to attract the defense, and everyone’s going to set up around us. So when we’re doing something like that, you’ve got to pick who you want to score tonight. Me and him both — it’s going to be a deadly scoring duo.”

Brooks, meanwhile, said he always had a sense he’d land in Phoenix eventually. Back in his second season with the Grizzlies, he recalled thinking he’d been traded to the Suns before Memphis realized they had mistakenly agreed to move MarShon Brooks instead.

Now, there’s no confusion. The Suns have a fiery perimeter pairing with something to prove.

“I can’t wait to connect with the fans and bring that toughness, bring that urgency, and be ready for the journey,” Brooks said.

Trail Blazers

Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups believes second-year point guard Scoot Henderson is in for a big jump.

Speaking with ESPN during the Summer League broadcast, Billups praised Henderson’s offseason approach and the work he’s putting in to elevate his game.

“He had a tough year last year, only because he didn’t get to play basketball during the summer,” Billups said. “He was banged up, he was licking his wounds from the season.

“This year he’s been playing ball all summer, he’s been working on his game. Scoot is gonna take an incredible leap this year.”

The Blazers also see veteran Jrue Holiday as a major asset in Henderson’s development, offering leadership and defensive grit.

“What better guy in the league could you have to raise Scoot and Shaedon Sharpe?” Billups said.

Raptors

Small forward Brandon Ingram hasn’t logged a minute yet with the Raptors, but he’s already buying into what the franchise is building.

Per Josh Lewenberg of TSN, Ingram said he’s fully confident the Raptors will be in the playoff picture this coming season.

“I think we’re making the playoffs for sure,” he said. “I think we try to build championship habits. I think what I saw in the second half of the season is, they play hard. They play really, really hard on the offensive and defensive end.”

Ingram was acquired from the Pelicans in a multi-team deal at the trade deadline. With Toronto trending toward a younger core and strong defensive identity under coach Darko Rajakovic, Ingram is hoping to be the versatile scoring anchor the team has lacked.