One of the more consistent themes of offseason Portland Trail Blazers chatter this year has been the best candidate for the Blazers’ starting point guard position. The two names vying for said prize are seventh-year offensive-first combo guard Anfernee Simons and the initially underwhelming sophomore floor general Scoot Henderson. Those are very different options for a Blazers franchise with two eyes fixed on the 2025 NBA Draft.

To ensure the predetermined sweet-spot between abysmal record and competitive losses, the franchise must navigate the pending 82-game gauntlet. While winning games won’t be a priority this coming season, the Blazers would be wise to avoid the embarrassment that followed their two 60-plus-point losses last season.

Below we analyze the options at point guard and what that might yield. But just before we dive into the difference between the two young men, we should probably discuss one of the main players they’ll need to align with, Shaedon Sharpe.

Shaedon Sharpe

Age: 21
Position: SG
23-24: 32 games, 33.1 minutes, 15.9 points, 33.3% 3pt, 5.0 boards, 2.9 assists, 0.9 steals

The 21-year-old Canadian managed to accomplish something pretty difficult last season. In 32 games, he somehow convinced the majority of Blazers watchers he was the franchise’s brightest young star on relatively average counting stats.

I say “Blazers watchers” because for anyone simply reading the numbers without watching a game, you’d probably be justified in being unimpressed with his output. For those who saw those 32 games, there’s a lot to talk about. A young player harnessing out-of-this-world athleticism combined with the ability to actively change the course of a basketball game on both ends of the floor.

By doing this, he’s been able to assure his place as the franchise’s starting shooting guard, certainly for next season and, if this production continues, much longer.

For the purposes of this piece, there is no debate over where Sharpe sits in the Blazers estimation. If there was, General Manager Joe Cronin would have gone out this offseason and found another player to displace him at the starting two.

Scoot Henderson

Age: 20
Position: PG
23-24: 62 games, 28.5 minutes, 14.0 points, 32.5% 3pt, 3.1 boards, 5.4 assists, 0.8 steals

Those arguing against the premise of this column will posit that Henderson needs to spend as much time on the court alongside Sharpe to fast-track his and the team’s development.

It’s a fair take. But a starter isn’t necessarily one of a franchise’s five best players — just ask Noah Vonleh. Development occurs regardless of a player’s starter status and Henderson will get plenty of time playing alongside Sharpe even if he comes off the bench.

The former third overall pick has a lot to prove this season after falling well shy of the expectations that followed his selection with the third overall pick in 2023.

This disappointment was almost certainly exacerbated by the rookie impact of the two men — Victor Wembanyama and Brandon Miller — selected ahead of him on draft night.

The bad taste worsened by the fact that he’d spent the two prior seasons playing as a professional with pundits initially claiming he was, for all intents and purposes, NBA-ready.

For me, the former example is fair, Wembanyama and Miller did outshine him.

The second holds less water, particularly following the recent disbandment of his former G League team. There is a good argument to suggest that the Ignite actually stymied the development of every young man it sent to the NBA from Jalen Green to Jonathan Kuminga.

With all that said, Henderson is still in line to be the Blazers next long-term answer at point guard. While year one was less than ideal, Henderson’s sophomore campaign is a new chance to claw back that initial hype following a full season and offseason under his belt.

There’s no doubt his passing and vision are special. His athleticism and speed are jaw dropping with many rightly excited about his ability to be a point guard of average height with above-average defensive potential.

The real issue is his scoring — at all three levels. Within four feet of the rim, Henderson ranked 41st among point guards, hitting 45.9 percent. He finished 38th in the midrange at 37 percent and 36th from three with the above 32.5 percent.

To reach the heights we all hope he gets to, the Blazers need him to be at least top 10, if not top five, in all of these categories. But be forewarned, it won’t happen in one year.

While he’ll never be a 40 percent three-point shooter, the stroke is not broken. As for converting closer to the rim, natural acclimation and development should improve conversion on layups and dunks.

But how do we want him to develop? We saw last season that when he was forced to face top-level starting point guards, he was a little overawed and extremely outmatched. This no doubt sapped his confidence.

After suffering a minor injury, Henderson was brought back via the bench where he actually began to find his feet against lesser second units. These needs to be the plan forward, at least until Simons is moved.

Perhaps my biggest concern about starting Henderson is for his young Blazers teammates. While the franchise isn’t in the winning business this season, they still need a point guard who can spearhead an offense that helps the rest of the young roster establish good habits.

If the Blazers offense doesn’t even get off the ground through turnovers, indecision and inexperience, then that halts the growth of Henderson’s teammates. We want Sharpe, Donovan Clingan, Toumani Camara, Jabari Walker, Rayan Rupert and Kris Murray to play in offensive schemes that are actually functioning.

Anfernee Simons

Age: 25
Position: PG/SG
23-24: 46 games, 34.4 minutes, 22.6 points, 38.5% 3pt, 3.6 boards, 5.5 assists, 0.5 steals

While Henderson starting isn’t a ridiculous notion, we need to remind ourselves what the Blazers are trying to do. Yes, they’re developing young talent but they’re also gathering assets.

Simons could very well be the Blazers’ best player on opening night against the Golden State Warriors. And with a relatively team-friendly two years, $53 million remaining on his deal, he’s probably General Manager Joe Cronin’s best trade asset.

You’d not only be doing Simons a disservice by picking Henderson but you’d potentially be hamstringing the future of the franchise, by reducing perceived value.

Simons has made his hopes to compete clear, but is a prospective trade partner going to pay more or less for a guy who isn’t starting on the Western Conference’s worst team?

Don’t get me wrong. The other 29 teams know who Simons is and what he can do. But when it comes time for contending teams to find that piece that puts you over the top, you’re going to be looking at players shining on their existing teams.

While the Blazers won’t win many games with Simons in the starting unit, the franchise will still be more competitive with the Florida native on the frontline. He’s a genuine headache for opposing defenses through his ability to spread the floor and score at every single level.

Last season, among combo guards, Simons ranked 15th in assist rate, diming on 26.8 percent of teammate makes. His 58 percent at the rim, 41 percent in the midrange and 39 percent from three monstered Henderson’s numbers.

The bigger a season Simons has, the sooner Henderson can be promoted to the starting unit. The Blazers need to tantalize trade partners with Simons’ skillset, get them to cough up that extra pick or add that young player they’re still not sure they want to part with.

Simons has to start so that the Blazers can move the rebuild forward and get Henderson the best possible help when the team is ready to contend.

They can’t start together

A couple of people have put forward a Henderson-Simons backcourt with Sharpe coming off the bench.

I could write all day about how much I dislike this situation. But I’ll be brief. This is Shaedon Sharpe’s season to prove he can be a special talent. Why in the world would you relegate him to the bench when he has the perfect opportunity and the clearest runway to play the two?

You don’t.

On top of handcuffing Sharpe, a Henderson-Simons backcourt almost invites opposing offenses to score with the duo one of the worst defensive backcourts in the league. Sharpe is no defensive behemoth but his size and length clearly put up more resistance.

Again, we don’t want the Blazers to win this season but we don’t want them to be embarrassed either.

Conclusion

There is plenty of time for Henderson and Sharpe to share a backcourt. If all goes to plan they’ll be doing so for a decade-plus.

The franchise needs to do everything it can to get as much in return for Anfernee Simons before they let a 20-year-old run an NBA offense. Simons is the franchise’s key to bigger and better assets that will help future incarnations of the Blazers.

Simons starting will also help the franchise lose competitively instead of being manhandled every single night. It’ll serve to develop, and not demoralize, Henderson through the still-early part of his NBA journey.

When the Blazers take the court against the Warriors on October 23, Simons and Sharpe need to be lining up at the two starting backcourt positions. Henderson’s time will come, it’s just not now.