Scoot Henderson - 2023 NBA Draft Prospect

[TD 21]

Now tell me about the defensive side...and where they rank.

Of course we need to get better offensively, but the defensive showing over the last several years has been progressively worse, culminating in last years historic inep ude.

As far as what Scoot will bring to the table, I'm just not I'm agreement at all that he's the piece we need to turn the cornet. First he's been abysmal defensively and secondly, he's an average passer, average to above average finisher, and poor from midrange and beyond. So teams in the NBA will just play off of him and under the screen unless and until he makes them pay for it. And he's a high usage player so he HAS to score to be worthy of a spot on the floor, rather than part of a team flow.

Again, we're just gonna see this differently, and that's OK.

30th. You said "we have no problem scoring" though, which is false.

If all it took to limit the effectiveness of his archetype was to go under, so many of them wouldn't have succeeded.

When you're as explosive as someone like him, you're capable of beating the defense to the other side and blowing past anyway, so it becomes almost like a runway that allows them to rev their engine.

I'm generally not a fan of his archetype and I'm not sold he'll necessarily be greater than All-Star caliber, but I am sold on it being a better chance than not that he attains that status.

[scott]

Agree. Creating mismatches is the key, especially if we're talking about a potential top-5 opportunity.

A 6' 3" guard "known for his crossover dribble, driving ability, and flashy dunks."

So far, I think we'd all agree that's a fairly accurate description of Scoot (except Scoot is listed as 6' 2"). Thing is, that's the Wiki career description for Steve Francis. Credit to Mr. Body for calling it first.

Francis was a super-flashy Rookie of the Year, three-time All-Star, who played in a career total of five playoff games, winning only one, before fizzling out with the Beijing Ducks. Fun to watch, but never feared, and in the end, forgettable. On top of that -- unlike Francis' era -- the future of the league's roster designs right now is gonna be dominated by players who are much taller than 6' 2", who can shoot threes and rotate across all five positions on defense (think Denver and the kind of design OKC is building). That's the kind of roster designs that will fight for les.

Scoot is too short to compete against those designs on defense. A 6' 9" wingspan isn't gonna save him, attached to a 6' 2" body. There's nowhere to hide him against starting rosters where offenses are initiated by guys who are 6' 9" and taller, and there will be more and more of those roster designs, coming soon. I can see why people would be hyped about Scoot, if they just want a flashy player who *maybe* snags an individual honor here or there. But if the goal is to win championships in the next 5-7 years -- no.

Sounds like that would generally be a pretty successful draft pick, tbh. Sure, we want our Top 2 pick to become an MVP candidate, but let's face it - there is only so much room at the top of that mountain and if we are picking 2, I'd say ROY and 3-time all-star (in his first 5 years, like Francis) would be a pretty awesome outcome. The lack of playoff appearances and playoff wins is not ideal, but at some point we need to look at the team constructed around the player. One player alone cannot make a playoff team.

Edit: I'm not a Scoot stan or anything. Honestly I don't know jack about him other than what I'm mostly reading in this thread... but if you're telling me he is Steve Francis, that sure sounds a lot better than Anthony Black (who to me sounds like his upside is Derrick White). At the end of the day, we only get to pick from the players who are available when we pick and we should be evaluating those options against one another, not against comps we don't get to pick. So, if Stevie Francis is the comp... which prospect has reasonable upside (meaning within a decent probability of occurring, not the freak Giannis/Kawhi/Jokic perfect storm of development happening scenario) that is more attractive than that?

[scott]

30th. You said "we have no problem scoring" though, which is false.

If all it took to limit the effectiveness of his archetype was to go under, so many of them wouldn't have succeeded.

When you're as explosive as someone like him, you're capable of beating the defense to the other side and blowing past anyway, so it becomes almost like a runway that allows them to rev their engine.

I'm generally not a fan of his archetype and I'm not sold he'll necessarily be greater than All-Star caliber, but I am sold on it being a better chance than not that he attains that status.

I think this is where a lot of ST is getting hung up. All-Star caliber would be a great draft pick, especially at #2! But the last 3 Spurs picked in the Top 7 (where we will be picking) all have their jersey hanging in the rafters, have rings on their fingers, and two of them are HOFers who are in the Top 25 Players of All-Time. These are big steps to follow. This pick will have more pressure on them to impact this franchise than any other rookie since David Robinson (I think Duncan had far less pressure since the Franchise was already a perennial WCF contender when healthy). Likewise, Spurs fans expectations and hopes aren't just for an All-Star caliber player (since we've found those with late FRPs and even SRPs), but for our next superstar face of the franchise. Those aren't realistic expectations though, and we should be pumped to land an All-Star caliber player.

[duncan2150]

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Very impressive conditioning.

[Dejounte]

Bro training with a GOAT and will shut down critiques about his shooting fairly quickly tbh

Not many young players with connections to superstars like this

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Bro training with a GOAT and will shut down critiques about his shooting fairly quickly tbh

Not many young players with connections to superstars like this

He's Spud Webb.

[tonight...you]

Bro training with a GOAT and will shut down critiques about his shooting fairly quickly tbh

Not many young players with connections to superstars like this

Boy, you really like Scoot!
I'm not as on board, but I respect your digging into prospects.
I just don't like lead players being itty bitty PG's despite his wingspan.
JMO

[Dejounte]

He's Spud Webb.

and Bilal is Kawhi Leonard one of us is closer with these comps we’re throwing around and it ain’t you, my guy… no one is touching Bilal with a 20 ft pole if they had a top 5 pick, he likely won’t even get picked in the lottery. Like I said, dude is probably being picked in the second round. You are probably the only on the internet rating him this high. No disrespect, man. This banter is fun.

[Dejounte]

Boy, you really like Scoot!
I'm not as on board, but I respect your digging into prospects.
I just don't like lead players being itty bitty PG's despite his wingspan.
JMO

Some folks were content with Tre being the future PG sometime during the season when he was having a good few games. It’s not hard to visualize someone like Scoot leading a team with his size. Plenty of stars do it right now.

[tonight...you]

Some folks were content with Tre being the future PG sometime during the season when he was having a good few games. It’s not hard to visualize someone like Scoot leading a team with his size. Plenty of stars do it right now.

I agree with that, as long as he's not the Main Man in the long run, otherwise we're looking at a bunch of 2nd round exits at best otherwise.

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and Bilal is Kawhi Leonard one of us is closer with these comps we’re throwing around and it ain’t you, my guy… no one is touching Bilal with a 20 ft pole if they had a top 5 pick, he likely won’t even get picked in the lottery. Like I said, dude is probably being picked in the second round. You are probably the only on the internet rating him this high. No disrespect, man. This banter is fun.

None taken, Holmes. I acknowledge my rating is higher than others but that's just because my skills need to be in a GM room somewhere . I feel like I've had a pretty good track record with taking the BPA over the years. For example, this past year, I wanted Mathurian above all else last year in what I hoped was in our feasibility range and was next up with Sochan and Ousmane Dieng. Mathurian showed he was the best behind Banchero and the other top picks. Sochan was the right pick for us. And my long shot, well, due to injury he didn't even play half the games and got only like 15 min I think per game. But on April 9th he finally got some run against the Grizzlies. Here was his stat line:

Apr 9 vs MEM
45 MIN
22 PTS
8-15 FG
8 REB
9 AST

Good players put up those kinds of stats. And I was waaay higher on him than many others. Let's see what the now 19 year old can do with more minutes if he stays healthy this year. I'd expect a come out year for him if he can stay healthy.

I'm telling you there's something special about him and I'd wholeheartedly disagree he'll slide to the 2nd. Utah is purportedly VERY high on him. OKC too. He's got something in his game bruv.

[PhantomDashCam]

First off, I think Scoot (like many) is the clear #2 guy in this draft.
Just putting these stats out there as one of the reasons I think the Spurs will look at trading the #2 pick or select someone else if it were to happen.

Scoot:

Season	Tm	G	GS	MP	FG	FGA	FG%	3P	3PA	3P%	2P	2PA	2P%	FT	FTA	FT%	ORB	DRB	TRB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	PF	PTS
2022-23	GLI	19	18	30.7	6.1	14.1	.429	0.7	2.7	.275	5.3	11.4	.465	2.2	2.9	.764	1.1	4.3	5.4	6.5	1.1	0.5	3.5	3.3	16.5
Career		19	18	30.7	6.1	14.1	.429	0.7	2.7	.275	5.3	11.4	.465	2.2	2.9	.764	1.1	4.3	5.4	6.5	1.1	0.5	3.5	3.3	16.5

Tre Jones:

Season	Tm	G	GS	MP	FG	FGA	FG%	3P	3PA	3P%	2P	2PA	2P%	FT	FTA	FT%	ORB	DRB	TRB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	PF	PTS
2020-21	AUS	7	7	31.3	5.9	13.1	.446	0.1	1.6	.091	5.7	11.6	.494	4.3	5.1	.833	1.4	3.9	5.3	9.7	1.4	0.0	3.3	2.6	18.1
Career		7	7	31.3	5.9	13.1	.446	0.1	1.6	.091	5.7	11.6	.494	4.3	5.1	.833	1.4	3.9	5.3	9.7	1.4	0.0	3.3	2.6	18.1

Yes, only a 7 game sample size for Tre, but the Spurs brass has gone on record as suggesting KJ and DV's improvements are partly attributable to him.

[Ariel]

Bro training with a GOAT and will shut down critiques about his shooting fairly quickly tbh

Not many young players with connections to superstars like this

Shooting touch isn't a virus you can catch by sitting next to someone. Its great that he's focused and working on improving, but it's a bit more complicated that that.

[Dejounte]

Shooting touch isn't a virus you can catch by sitting next to someone. Its great that he's focused and working on improving, but it's a bit more complicated that that.

Of course it’s not. If that’s what you think I tried to implied here, then I don’t know what to tell you. Click the right arrow, there’s more images of Scoot working out with Curry in attendance presumably there to teach him parts of the game. Don’t know why you have to act smug sometimes.

[Ariel]

Of course it’s not. If that’s what you think I tried to implied here, then I don’t know what to tell you. Click the right arrow, there’s more images of Scoot working out with Curry in attendance presumably there to teach him parts of the game. Don’t know why you have to act smug sometimes.

That's not the way I meant it, my point is that, though I have no question on his determination (this is where his ego is channeled in a positive manner), there are legit questions concerning him that won't be resolved easily -if ever-. Nothing against him though, I have no doubts he's going to be at least a very good NBA player, just not 100% sold on him being able to meet expectations.

[SpursGenius]

Scoot or Wemby would be fantastic. Big drop off after that.

[timvp]

I'm mostly a believer in Scoot but I talked to someone today who is pretty low on him. His reasoning is that since Scoot's parents are basketball trainers who have been training him like an NBA player for 10+ years, Scoot doesn't have the typical upside remaining that a normal teenage prospect would have. He believes that at this point, Scoot is already at his basketball peak. He also said that he believes it's a red flag that all of Scoot's older siblings have suffered career-ending knee injuries because that's a sign that he probably received too much training too soon in his development. He views Scoot as the bigger injury risk than Wemby.

Tbh, I think some of that is unfair but it's interesting that there are skeptics in the NBA who are thinking this way . . .

[Joseph Kony]

I'm mostly a believer in Scoot but I talked to someone today who is pretty low on him. His reasoning is that since Scoot's parents are basketball trainers who have been training him like an NBA player for 10+ years, Scoot doesn't have the typical upside remaining that a normal teenage prospect would have. He believes that at this point, Scoot is already at his basketball peak. He also said that he believes it's a red flag that all of Scoot's older siblings have suffered career-ending knee injuries because that's a sign that he probably received too much training too soon in his development. He views Scoot as the bigger injury risk than Wemby.

Tbh, I think some of that is unfair but it's interesting that there are skeptics in the NBA who are thinking this way . . .

is that someone Spurs-affiliated or just league-affiliated?

tbh those are legit concerns, but i have to lol at anyone thinking a 19 year old who hasnt played one minute on an NBA court is already at his basketball peak. thats just silly

[Ariel]

I'm mostly a believer in Scoot but I talked to someone today who is pretty low on him. His reasoning is that since Scoot's parents are basketball trainers who have been training him like an NBA player for 10+ years, Scoot doesn't have the typical upside remaining that a normal teenage prospect would have. He believes that at this point, Scoot is already at his basketball peak. He also said that he believes it's a red flag that all of Scoot's older siblings have suffered career-ending knee injuries because that's a sign that he probably received too much training too soon in his development. He views Scoot as the bigger injury risk than Wemby.

Tbh, I think some of that is unfair but it's interesting that there are skeptics in the NBA who are thinking this way . . .

Damn... really interesting take.

[BatManu20]

Scoot seems destined to be a Spur to me. Idk why.

[JPB]

I'm mostly a believer in Scoot but I talked to someone today who is pretty low on him. His reasoning is that since Scoot's parents are basketball trainers who have been training him like an NBA player for 10+ years, Scoot doesn't have the typical upside remaining that a normal teenage prospect would have. He believes that at this point, Scoot is already at his basketball peak. He also said that he believes it's a red flag that all of Scoot's older siblings have suffered career-ending knee injuries because that's a sign that he probably received too much training too soon in his development. He views Scoot as the bigger injury risk than Wemby.

Tbh, I think some of that is unfair but it's interesting that there are skeptics in the NBA who are thinking this way . . .

That's why I don't want him, besides shooting, size and delusion, I don't see that much upside here, WYSIWYG. He didn't progress much during the season to such a point they had to shut it down not to hurt his brand. He never killed anything in the G League Ignite and was destroyed by Wemby in Vegas... Mostly living on the hype and a waste at #2 to me, he's not a game changer. The parent story is fitting, like he was forced into everybody's mind as a future great while nothing really shows that.

[RC_Drunkford]

People here don’t want Scoot cause he can‘t shoot 3s well enough, but love Sochan and think he can become a 3-point shooter you cant make this up

[exstatic]

People here don’t want Scoot cause he can‘t shoot 3s well enough, but love Sochan and think he can become a 3-point shooter you cant make this up

There are a lot more pathways for a 6'9" non or poor shooter to succeed in the NBA than for a 6'1" non or poor shooter.

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

I'd trade the pick if we aren't #1. I wouldn't build my franchise around Scoot or Miller.