Meyers Leonard- What To Do?

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BLAZER PROPHET

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As we all know, his sophmore season has been very disappointing. No one doubts his athleticism for a center, but he doesn't seem to grasp how the game is played.

So do we trade him or keep him?

It seems to me that if we do trade him, we will have to have back what would be considered a top 15 pick or at least another servicable center. It's idiotic to trade an athletic center for anything else.

For me, I'd keep him. We have 15 players on the roster and we only really play 8-9 and expect a contribution. Meyers, I think, will eventually learn the game and can still be a somewhat productive center. So stick him at the emd of the bench and let him just continue to learn. It may take 4 or 5 years but eventually I think he will pay some sort of dividends.
 
He very well may have so little value that he can't/won't be moved, if we could trade him(and maybe another) for a guy like Hawes I do it in a heartbeat
 
Someone else made the point recently that Leonard's rookie year was actually better than Spencer Hawes', and that the difference was that Hawes was given playing time that allowed him to develop. It's completely true; Hawes was a sub-14 PER player for four years--starting the majority of those games--before he finally figured out how to be a legit contributor. Given PT and opportunity, Leonard would probably be able to figure it out as well, but we just don't have the luxury of being bad enough (oxymoronic, I know) to justify giving 25 mpg to a guy with a PER of 11.4 (unless that guy's name is Mo Williams).

Basically, whether we keep him or trade him, I don't think we'll ever see him as a legit NBA contributor in a Blazer uniform. If we can deal him for someone who has a proven ability to produce, I would do it.
 
PtldPlatypus said:
Someone else made the point recently that Leonard's rookie year was actually better than Spencer Hawes', and that the difference was that Hawes was given playing time that allowed him to develop. It's completely true; Hawes was a sub-14 PER player for four years--starting the majority of those games--before he finally figured out how to be a legit contributor. Given PT and opportunity, Leonard would probably be able to figure it out as well, but we just don't have the luxury of being bad enough (oxymoronic, I know) to justify giving 25 mpg to a guy with a PER of 11.4 (unless that guy's name is Mo Williams).

Basically, whether we keep him or trade him, I don't think we'll ever see him as a legit NBA contributor in a Blazer uniform. If we can deal him for someone who has a proven ability to produce, I would do it.
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very good pt about the needed playing time, he simply won't get it here and likely neither will Trob, Philly IMO are perfect destinations for them as they get a ton of minutes this yr and next, but Philly may not want them
 
Blazinaway said:
very good pt about the needed playing time, he simply won't get it here and likely neither will Trob, Philly IMO are perfect destinations for them as they get a ton of minutes this yr and next, but Philly may not want them
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...which is really unfortunate for all involved, because Hawes would be great for us, Stotts' system would be great for him, Philly's situation would be so much better for Leonard and Robinson than ours is, they (age and experience wise) are much better fits for Philly than Hawes is, AND Nerlens Noel would likely be better served to be playing with two other young, learning front-court players than to be behind a better, more experienced center.

The deal just makes too much sense not to happen, which is why it won't.
 
Unless you could sell a team on Meyer's pending potential, trading him know would be buying high and selling low. As a team they are almost better to hold on to him and try to develop him because that is the most they can hope to get out of him at this point versus the value they would likely get in a trade.

:matrix:
 
Bigger guys always take longer to develop and mature. You can't teach his size, I say we stay patient.
 
TBpup said:
Unless you could sell a team on Meyer's pending potential, trading him know would be buying high and selling low. As a team they are almost better to hold on to him and try to develop him because that is the most they can hope to get out of him at this point versus the value they would likely get in a trade.

:matrix:
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I have this feeling that if we trade him we will be sorry when he develops into an NBA player.
 
Meyers and Thomas are both guys that if we trade, in about two years we will have forgotten Jermaine O'neal for Dale Davis. Ok not that much but realistically they both have assets you simply can't teach.
 
Meyers per 36: 10.7pts, 11.6reb
Robinson per 36: 14pts, 12.7reb

Hawes 2nd season per 36: 14pts, 8.7reb
Hawes Career per 36: 13.8pts, 9.3 reb.

And for the whole starter vs bench Hawes is only a part time starter until this season.
 
Meyers has a far higher basketball IQ than most of you seem to grasp. He's 21. He has mobility and passing skills that most centers would kill for.

He's 21. Given regular PT, some teaching from the coaching staff, and a little patience, and he'll develop into a devastating force in the middle. Did I mention he's only 21?
 
With Meyers either the light bulb will go on or it won't. If it does Look out! If it doesn't he's still roster worthy guy as a 2nd or 3rd C.
 
The problem I see with Meyers is he doesn't seem to be gradually improving. Second year in the NBA and I would guess sometimes that it is the first time he stepped onto an NBA court.

Don't think he has much trade value, and with his size and athletic ability, Blazers have no practical choice than to try and develop him.
 
For all the bball knowledge that this board has, it shocks me how many of you disregard the fact that Meyers just doesnt know how to play basketball. He doesnt pass the eye test, his BBIQ is the worst i have ever seen in the NBA. Its not about getting the opportunity etc, just watch him on the court.
 
I am convinced that given time he will be fine. I like the idea of hiring a big guy coach just to help him.
 
OSUBlazerfan said:
For all the bball knowledge that this board has, it shocks me how many of you disregard the fact that Meyers just doesnt know how to play basketball. He doesnt pass the eye test, his BBIQ is the worst i have ever seen in the NBA. Its not about getting the opportunity etc, just watch him on the court.
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Totally agree with this assessment. I like the kid, but he doesn't understand movement on the defensive side of the court.

We would be lucky to get anything in a trade for him.
 
Compare his numbers with Joel P.'s at the same age. I don't like the player he is right now, but I also think you have to keep him for longer and see what you get.
 
OSUBlazerfan said:
For all the bball knowledge that this board has, it shocks me how many of you disregard the fact that Meyers just doesnt know how to play basketball. He doesnt pass the eye test, his BBIQ is the worst i have ever seen in the NBA. Its not about getting the opportunity etc, just watch him on the court.
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Hobbesarable said:
Totally agree with this assessment. I like the kid, but he doesn't understand movement on the defensive side of the court.
We would be lucky to get anything in a trade for him.
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Add me to the chorus. But I also believe this about Robinson, much as I wish it weren't so.
 
OSUBlazerfan said:
For all the bball knowledge that this board has, it shocks me how many of you disregard the fact that Meyers just doesnt know how to play basketball. He doesnt pass the eye test, his BBIQ is the worst i have ever seen in the NBA. Its not about getting the opportunity etc, just watch him on the court.
Click to expand...

Hobbesarable said:
Totally agree with this assessment. I like the kid, but he doesn't understand movement on the defensive side of the court.

We would be lucky to get anything in a trade for him.
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Rastapopoulos said:
Add me to the chorus. But I also believe this about Robinson, much as I wish it weren't so.
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Samesies.
 
I love TRob's hustle....but hustle alone isn't that hard to replace.

As for Leonard, at his current rate of progress he will soon be showing up for games with his shorts on backwards and his shoes on the wrong feet. Compared to this dork, Darius Miles was a paragon of sound basketball fundamentals. Hell's bells - I don't even see the raw athletic ability he is alleged to have. His mobility/lateral quickness seem average at best. Standing around looking tall doesn't make him a basketball player.
 
oldmangrouch said:
I love TRob's hustle....but hustle alone isn't that hard to replace.

As for Leonard, at his current rate of progress he will soon be showing up for games with his shorts on backwards and his shoes on the wrong feet. Compared to this dork, Darius Miles was a paragon of sound basketball fundamentals. Hell's bells - I don't even see the raw athletic ability he is alleged to have. His mobility/lateral quickness seem average at best. Standing around looking tall doesn't make him a basketball player.
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Leonard's last game he had 8 points and 4 rebounds in 14 minutes on 4-5 shooting, and was +10 in a loss. He also had a nice lob dunk where he skied for the ball. Non-athletic players can't do that.

You can slam the guy all you want, but your opinion should be held accountable by actual stats and performance. Bash away...
 
PapaG said:
Leonard's last game he had 8 points and 4 rebounds in 14 minutes on 4-5 shooting, and was +10 in a loss. He also had a nice lob dunk where he skied for the ball. Non-athletic players can't do that.

You can slam the guy all you want, but your opinion should be held accountable by actual stats and performance. Bash away...
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Stats dont tell the whole story when it comes to basketball, they are an ancillary piece of it. The guy just looks like the farthest thing from an NBA player
 
OSUBlazerfan said:
Stats dont tell the whole story when it comes to basketball, they are an ancillary piece of it. The guy just looks like the farthest thing from an NBA player
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7 feet tall and athletic, looks like an NBA player to me.

TBpup said:
Unless you could sell a team on Meyer's pending potential, trading him know would be buying high and selling low. As a team they are almost better to hold on to him and try to develop him because that is the most they can hope to get out of him at this point versus the value they would likely get in a trade.
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This. If there was ever a guy to waste a roster spot on for a few years, Meyers is it.
 
donkiez said:
Bigger guys always take longer to develop and mature. You can't teach his size, I say we stay patient.
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Thought the years staying patient and the Blazers don't mix well together. Take a look at history.
 
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