The youth movement has officially begun for the Portland Trail Blazers, with the team’s brass deciding this summer it was time to shake things up, and as a result, they traded superstar guard Damian Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks.
Although Lillard will now be playing alongside fellow superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee, the Blazers seem confident in the team’s direction, as they have gone all-in on rookie guard Scoot Henderson as the new face of the franchise moving forward.
With Henderson expected to lead the charge from here on out in Portland, the question is who head coach Chauncey Billups will put around him to start his first season with the Blazers.
On Monday, Billups provided an answer to that question, as he’s content with Anfernee Simons, Matisse Thybulle, Jerami Grant, and Deandre Ayton in the starting lineup to start the 2023-24 NBA season, according to Sean Highkin of the Rose Garden Report.
Chauncey Billups says he’s “pretty set” on the opening-night starters being Scoot Henderson, Anfernee Simons, Matisse Thybulle, Jerami Grant and Deandre Ayton.
— Sean Highkin (@highkin) October 23, 2023
That’s a pretty young and talented starting five for the Blazers, which could be better than expected during the 2023-24 campaign, as no one will be giving this team much of a chance to accomplish anything of merit this season.
However, with a talented young core like this with a potential superstar and leader in Henderson, the Blazers could make some noise in the near future.
Of course, it will all likely depend on Henderson’s maturity and whether he’s the real deal and able to be the kind of leader they need in the locker room moving forward.
NEXT: Trail Blazers Teammate Shares His Thoughts On Scoot Henderson's Defensive Potential