Reported Damian Lillard Trade Request Opens Opportunity for Scoot Henderson to be Face of the Franchise

Damian Lillard has reportedly requested a trade from the Portland Trail Blazers, which signals a rebuild.

In what had been one of the most anticipated potential events being tracked over the past few years, Damian Lillard has officially requested a trade from the Portland Trail Blazers, according to Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report.

While many teams around the league will pivot their strategy in effort to acquire the superstar guard, what’s even more fascinating is the potential rebuild in Portland. After selecting Scoot Henderson with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, he’s set to be the new face of the franchise in the post-Lillard era.

So what’s next for the Blazers?

For starters, the future of the team looks incredibly bright. Although Portland is seemingly willing to work with Lillard on finding a trade destination that he approves, the assets in return should be tremendous. 

Whether it’s players, picks or both, the Blazers already have three young guards with star upside in Anfernee Simons, Shaedon Sharpe and now Henderson. As such, it appears they’re just a few young frontcourt pieces away from having one of the most intriguing cores in the NBA. 

More importantly, Henderson now has the keys to the franchise. As good as Simons and Sharpe are, Henderson is a generational guard talent. Although he would have greatly benefited from playing alongside Lillard and gaining his mentorship, he now has the opportunity to step in day one without the pressure of needing win now. Instead, he’ll be able to come in with more flexibility, margin for error and overall responsibility. 

While Lillard’s trade request might feel bittersweet given everything he’s done for the franchise, the team will be well positioned to have one of the most exciting teams in the NBA in just a few years. 

---

Want to join the discussion? Like Draft Digest on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to stay up to date on all the latest NBA Draft news. You can also meet the team behind the coverage.