The Portland Trail Blazers aren't looking to win right now.
But they hope to win later, someday.
And their final two draft picks should be a big part of that, being top 10 picks each, but point guard Scoot Henderson, the No. 3 pick out of the G-League Ignite in last year's draft, and shooting guard Shaydon Sharpe, the No. 7 pick out of Kentucky in 2022, have both been through tough tests at this early stage of their NBA careers.
Would it be worth it for Portland general manager Joe Cronin to consider moving either of these young players who aren't even 22 yet? The Trail Blazers are tanking for now, having missed the playoffs the last three times and making moves that suggest they're perfectly comfortable losing a fourth player, such as releasing Malcolm Brogdon this summer to save money and drafting Donovan Clingan as a fourth center. Henderson and Sharpe are both still on rookie-level contracts, so they're not particularly expensive yet. But Henderson struggled in his rookie season, and there's no guarantee either will be able to contribute on a good team.
In 32 games last year, the 6-foot-6 Sharpe averaged 15.9 points with .406 shooting, .333 on-base and .824 slugging, 5.0 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 0.9 steals per game. Henderson appeared in 62 games (32 starts) and averaged 14.0 points with .385 shooting, .325 on-base and .819 slugging, 5.4 assists (with 3.4 turnovers), 3.1 rebounds and 0.8 steals per game, a much less efficient 4.0 points per game.
To me, Sharpe has the edge. He's already made big strides in his second season and is a super freak of athleticism who can thrive without the ball in his hands, while Henderson has struggled mightily at times with the ball in his hands. There are already rumors floating around that he could be demoted from an occasional starting role to a bench role next season.
Read more: Is the Blazers' young guard ready for his big break?
As it turns out, this was just a scrimmage. With the two young players still on their rookie contracts and theoretically capable of making a playoff run against each other, it makes sense for Portland to at least explore their options as the 2024-25 season continues to stagnate. But with the depth of the 2025 NBA Draft class, it's entirely possible that at least one of the guards will be eligible for waiver before they hit restricted free agency — unless they take some drastic action.
More on the Trail Blazers: New trade proposal highlights how Blazers could get the most out of Jerami Grant's contract
