Portland Trail Blazers' Scoot Henderson Named Offseason Trade Target for Memphis Grizzlies

Portland Trail Blazers guard Scoot Henderson has been named an offseason trade target for the Memphis Grizzlies. 

NBA analyst Dan Favale of Bleacher Report believes the Grizzlies should pursue a trade for Henderson if the Blazers make the combo guard available this summer. 

Memphis is expected to trade Ja Morant this summer, so the team will need a lead guard. 

"While the Portland Trail Blazers aren't a realistic Morant suitor, Scoot Henderson's health and topsy-turvy play are giving them something to think about ahead of his extension eligibility," Favale wrote. "Memphis suddenly has the timeline to experiment with giving him the ropes."

The Blazers already have Jrue Holiday and Damian Lillard, so they don't really need Henderson. The third overall pick in the 2023 draft is extension-eligible this offseason. The new Portland owner is cheap, so he might look to trade Henderson. 

Once the Grizzlies part ways with Morant, they should look to acquire a point guard. Henderson can play the 1 and 2. He averaged 14.2 points, 2.7 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game this season while shooting 41.8% from the field, 35.2% from beyond the arc and 84.0% from the foul line. 

The Grizzlies have the third overall pick in this year's draft. They will get Caleb Wilson, Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer or AJ Dybantsa. Adding Henderson would give Memphis another youngster to build with.  

The 22-year-old Henderson has career averages of 13.5 points, 3.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game. A change of scenery could be just what the Georgia native needs to jumpstart his NBA career. 

The Grizzlies want to part ways with Morant this summer, but they can't get greedy. They will likely not get a grand return for Morant and that's something the front office must accept, no matter how difficult it is.

To combat that, Memphis should trade for Henderson so it has a lead guard in the post-Morant era. 

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