If there’s one move the Michael Jordan era of ownership unquestionably got right, it was selecting Brandon Miller in the 2023 NBA Draft. After all the drama surrounding draft night, the possibility of a Scoot Henderson trade to the Charlotte Hornets is growing, following Portland’s acquisition of Ja Morant.
The Trail Blazers haven’t formally placed Henderson on the trade market. But with Morant, Damian Lillard, Shaedon Sharpe and Jrue Holiday already in the backcourt mix, it’s clear that something eventually has to give. For Charlotte, bringing in a young point guard to replace LaMelo Ball after his shocking move could be interesting for the Hornets.
Pros and Cons of Hornets Exploring a Scoot Henderson Trade
The Pros of Trading for Henderson are Tantalizing
Henderson has not lived up to expectations since being drafted No. 3 overall. Averaging a meager 14.2 points, 2.7 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game in 2025-26, his torn hamstring held him back for most of the season. However, there are aspects of Henderson’s game that should be appealing to Hornets’ fans.
For one, he’s one of the most athletic guards in the league. His ability to generate rim pressure is a real threat. He’s always willing to get to the paint, which will open the offense up when he makes the right reads.
The Hornets currently don’t have any true downhill initiators to collapse the paint. Defenses may start to hone in on the perimeter, which could make life difficult for the multitude of perimeter players that Charlotte has. Henderson could alleviate that.
Additionally, Charlotte has to become a more physical team. Adding a 6’3” guard weighing 207 pounds who’s known for bringing defensive intensity at the point of attack is a great start.
The analytics back it up as well. Per Cleaning The Glass, when Henderson is on the floor, Portland gives up 3.5 fewer points per 100 possessions (79th percentile).
SCOOT HENDERSON TONIGHT:
31 POINTS
11/17 FG
5/9 3PTIS HE FINALLY PUTTING IT TOGETHER? 👀 pic.twitter.com/LCuw252k54
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) April 22, 2026
His clutch 31-point performance in the playoffs showcases his ceiling when the lights are the brightest. Add in the improved 3-point shooting percentage (35.2%), and there’s a strong case that the Hornets should take a shot on a young and talented guard like Henderson.
The Cons Depend on His Current Value
The question remains: what exactly is Henderson’s trade value? Even though he hasn’t lived up to draft expectations, his value is most likely insulated. A first-round pick plus another asset could be enough to pry him from a team that’s overloaded with guards, and Charlotte would have no issue parting ways with one pick from their massive war chest.
If Henderson doesn’t work out, losing those assets could complicate the Hornets’ future. There’s also the fact that Henderson is due for an extension after this upcoming season. If he theoretically had a great year with the Hornets, another gigantic extension would run parallel with Miller’s. If the front office weren’t able to keep him, they would lose him for nothing.
These cons don’t outweigh the pros. The Hornets ended up trading their most talented player on their roster, so they have to fill that void somehow. While there is a chance they could unload assets to acquire a star, the likely scenario is that they build gradually around Miller and Kon Knueppel.
At the end of the day, Henderson is a young player with All-Star talent. After the Ball trade, there isn’t a player who’s cemented as the future starting point guard.
Competition makes everyone in the locker room better. With Henderson, Coby White, and Christian Anderson Jr. all vying for minutes at the guard position, there could be a surprise winner out of all of them. The Hornets should firmly have Henderson on their radar.
© Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images
