PORTLAND, July 31 -- Scoot Henderson turned 21 in February and is, by every reasonable developmental measure, on schedule. He averaged double digits last season. He runs pick-and-rolls with the poise of a player who belongs at this level. Three years ago, NBA decision-makers spent weeks arguing about whether he or Victor Wembanyama deserved the first call. Portland took him at three and treated the pick as an answer.

On June 29, the Trail Blazers traded for Ja Morant and turned that answer into a question.

The deal sent Jerami Grant and Kris Murray to Memphis in exchange for a 26-year-old two-time All-Star who has played 79 games over the past three seasons. Grant averaged 18.6 points per game for the Blazers last season, the closest th...