Barring a surprising turn of events, the Chicago Bulls won't be a great team next season. That doesn't mean they can't lay the ground to get better in years to come, and that means going after out-of-favor youngsters.
The Bulls were impressed by Tiago Splitter's work as the Portland Trail Blazers' interim coach. He sparked the young guns' development, brought out their defensive prowess, and earned his first head-coaching gig.
Now, Bryson Graham should get himself some more groceries. According to Pippen' Aint Easy's Andrew Hanlon, that might mean reuniting him with Scoot Henderson, who might now be the odd man out in Rip City.
The Bulls should explore a trade for Scoot Henderson
"Kicking the tires on a player like Henderson is the kind of buy-low move Chicago needs to be making right now," Hanlon argued. "Perhaps Tre Jones, Isaac Okoro and a few second-round picks — potentially a heavily protected first — could get a move across the finish line."
It's crazy to look back on his career and remember there was a time when there was a legitimate debate about whether Henderson should be the No. 1 pick over Victor Wembanyama. That take aged like bad milk, but that doesn't mean he's unplayable.
Injuries and being stuck on a non-contending team hurt his development. Splitter believes in him, and while he had him leading the second unit, he helped him be more efficient at the rim, a bit less erratic, and even had him on the floor in the clutch.
The Blazers traded for Ja Morant earlier in the offseason and will have Damian Lillard back from injury. They also have Jrue Holiday, and there's only one basketball. With a contract extension looming large, the Blazers might want to get out of the Scoot Henderson business.
He's just 22 years old, and some guys just need more time to figure things out. The Bulls could have him run the second unit, just like he did last season, and depending on how he fares, they might even explore moving Josh Giddey, who can probably fetch a first-round pick in return.
A former G-League standout, Henderson's athleticism and physical tools are simply mesmerizing. Granted, that's not all it takes, but he's a hard-working guy who cares; he just hasn't been able to catch a break.
The Bulls must keep close tabs on all former lottery picks in bad situations. We've seen how reclamation projects turn into late bloomers and sometimes even franchise players, and the upside is most definitely there.
While he may never be a lights-out shooter, and he must be less erratic in his drives, Henderson is far away from his prime years. And if the Bulls can get rid of Okoro's deal and sign him to a cheap extension, even better.
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