Scoot Henderson has failed to reach an agreement on a rookie extension with the Portland Trail Blazers..

The Athletic's senior NBA reporter Sam Amick, reported exclusively on Tuesday that point guard Scoot Henderson has failed to reach an agreement on a rookie extension with the Portland Trail Blazers, casting doubt on his future with the team.

According to Amick, the Trail Blazers opted not to exercise the option to extend Henderson’s contract by the October 19 deadline. This means Henderson will become a restricted free agent after this season, at which point the Trail Blazers will have the opportunity to retain him by matching any offer sheet he receives from another team.

Over his first three seasons with the Trail Blazers, 22-year-old Scoot Henderson has been hampered by injuries, inconsistent shooting, and competition for playing time from veteran teammates.

Although he has shown signs of progress, including occasional flashes of superstar potential, such as a 31-point performance in a game against the San Antonio Spurs last season, he has yet to fully earn the trust of Portland’s front office or coaching staff. In the 158 games he has played during his career, he has started only 52.

As the third overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, Henderson becomes the first lottery pick for the Trail Blazers since Zach Collins (the 10th overall pick in the 2017 draft) to not receive a rookie extension. 

Among the top five picks from the 2023 NBA Draft, Henderson is the only one who did not receive a contract extension. 

The others, Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs (5 years, $252 million), Brandon Miller of the Charlotte Hornets (5 years, $209 million), Amen Thompson of the Houston Rockets (5 years, $208 million), and Ausar Thompson of the Detroit Pistons (5 years, $155 million)—all secured their extensions by the October 19 deadline.

Last season, a severe left hamstring tear, sustained just a week before the start of training camp, cast a shadow over Henderson’s future with the Portland Trail Blazers.

The injury sidelined him until February, limiting him to just 30 appearances throughout the season. While he managed a career-high 14.2 points per game and a respectable 35.2% shooting rate from three-point range, his performance remained inconsistent.

This inconsistency was further highlighted during a series against the Spurs. After scoring 31 points in Game 2 and 21 in Game 3, he went scoreless in Game 4 and contributed only 5 points in Game 5.

This season, Henderson will be competing for playing time alongside veterans such as Damian Lillard, Ja Morant, and Jrue Holiday.

Ja Morant, 27, has two seasons remaining on his contract, while 36-year-olds Lillard and Holiday both hold player options for next season.

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