Blazers Exercise Options......

[THE HCP]

Portland has exercised the third year options on Damian Lilliard, Meyers Leonard and Thomas Robinson.

 

[HailBlazers]

Now if only you would... exercise

 

[THE HCP]

quality post.

 

[maxiep]

If Leonard and Robinson reach their potential, we could have found our pot of gold. We got damn lucky with Lillard. First, however, someone needs to keep Leonard in the key.

 

[Draco]

If Leonard and Robinson reach their potential, we could have found our pot of gold. We got damn lucky with Lillard. First, however, someone needs to keep Leonard in the key.

I think we need to let Leonard do what he is best at. Just as the Kings were dumb to try and make TRob a jump shooting PF it'll be silly for us to try and make Leonard an inside presence when he has never been one. He is a jump shooting big and can have a lot of value as such, Rik Smits and even Sam Perkins played significant roles for very good teams even though they were not traditional big men.

Hopefully at least two of our sophomore players can make some big improvements this year. Our roster certainly has some very nice upside potential if a few guys exceed exceptions.

 

[Mediocre Man]

I think we need to let Leonard do what he is best at. Just as the Kings were dumb to try and make TRob a jump shooting PF it'll be silly for us to try and make Leonard an inside presence when he has never been one. He is a jump shooting big and can have a lot of value as such, Rik Smits and even Sam Perkins played significant roles for very good teams even though they were not traditional big men.

Hopefully at least two of our sophomore players can make some big improvements this year. Our roster certainly has some very nice upside potential if a few guys exceed exceptions.

What Leonard does best is be a stretch 4.

As for your comparison, the difference is that Smits was a good defender. and Perkins at least knew what defense was at the 4.

 

[Pinwheel1]

What Leonard does best is be a stretch 4.

Is there such a thing as a stretch 5? I don't think he can shoot as well as (at least in my mind) a stretch 4 should be. Nor can he guard them. But I agree that he can take his man away from the basket. At least 12-15 feet. I think he will work well with Trob who will need to stay around the basket.

 

[THE HCP]

Yes, Okur and Sabonis could be considered stretch 5s for example but Meyers is NOWHERE near that type of player!

 

[The_Lillard_King]

Was there some kind of deadline because I'm wondering why the Blazers exercised options on Leonard and T-Rob. Why not wait til the end of the year to see what you got.

 

[Jayps15]

Was there some kind of deadline because I'm wondering why the Blazers exercised options on Leonard and T-Rob. Why not wait til the end of the year to see what you got.

Has to be before the season for the team option years on 1st round contracts

 

[The_Lillard_King]

Has to be before the season for the team option years on 1st round contracts

Thx

 

[BigGameDamian]

Portland has exercised the third year options on Damian Lilliard, Meyers Leonard and Thomas Robinson.

I really think Thomas Robinson will be our next great PF and take Aldridge spot. LA will get traded before his contract.

 

[Draco]

Is there such a thing as a stretch 5? I don't think he can shoot as well as (at least in my mind) a stretch 4 should be. Nor can he guard them. But I agree that he can take his man away from the basket. At least 12-15 feet. I think he will work well with Trob who will need to stay around the basket.

Lenoard lead the Blazers in 3pt % last season and had great FT and FG % as well. He scored efficiently inside and on put backs. He has a lot of upside with his shooting and could be a hell of a role player. He won't be an inside presence so fans shouldn't expect that nor get disappointed when he doesn't provide something he's never been good at. But I could see him getting hot in a few games and providing a great offensive spark that keys our second unit.

 

[Draco]

Yes, Okur and Sabonis could be considered stretch 5s for example but Meyers is NOWHERE near that type of player!

Sabas had great skills but he was not a good 3 point shooter. He could make them but his percentages were very poor. Meyers has actually looked better then Sabas in that regard. Don't get me wrong, its only one of many components to being a complete basketball player and Sabas greatly outshines Meyers in basically every other aspect of the game.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Sabas had great skills but he was not a good 3 point shooter. He could make them but his percentages were very poor. Meyers has actually looked better then Sabas in that regard. Don't get me wrong, its only one of many components to being a complete basketball player and Sabas greatly outshines Meyers in basically every other aspect of the game.

Sabas 415 career 3pt attempts
Leonar_ 7 career 3pt attempts

Let's settle the fuck down kids......Geez

 

[Mediocre Man]

Lenoard lead the Blazers in 3pt % last season and had great FT and FG % as well. He scored efficiently inside and on put backs. He has a lot of upside with his shooting and could be a hell of a role player. He won't be an inside presence so fans shouldn't expect that nor get disappointed when he doesn't provide something he's never been good at. But I could see him getting hot in a few games and providing a great offensive spark that keys our second unit.

7 fucking attempts

 

[THE HCP]

haha

 

[Draco]

Sabas 415 career 3pt attempts
Leonar_ 7 career 3pt attempts

Let's settle the fuck down kids......Geez

Sabonis only made 136 of those attempts which equals 32.8%. That is a poor percentage, my main point was saying Sabonis was a poor 3 point shooter, he dominated in other parts of the game.

Meyers has displayed much better shooting in summer league and last year in the season. Meyers shot 54.5% FG on 277 attempts which was equal or better than every year of Sabonis career. Meyers shot 80.9% FT's on 89 attempts which was better than 6 of 7 seasons Sabonis played. Obviously Meyers has a ton to prove; can he keep those percentages up in longer minutes, can he play defense or rebound well enough to not be a major liability. He will never have the passing or IQ of Sabonis so I wasn't saying he had that potential. But early indications are Meyers shooting is far and away his best strength and he could carve out a very special role with that skill.

 

[Nikolokolus]

7 fucking attempts

seems legit.

 

[BigGameDamian]

Leonard will be playing for the Clippers later in the season so don't stress. Leonard & Wes for Jordan will happen.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Leonard will be playing for the Clippers later in the season so don't stress. Leonard & Wes for Jordan will happen.

Still jerkin' it to DeAndre youtube vids I see.

 

[julius]

I like the potential Leonard has, but I'm not sure he'll be more than a decent backup. He could be better, but his defense was so bad. But I think that has more to do with not knowing what to do, than not being able to do it.

Of course, I'm not sure if he'll ever have a decent inside game. He could be a sane, not so god damn irritating Chris Andersen. Not nearly as fluid athletically (not like Leonard is Joel Pryzbilla), but similar stats, - blocks though.

 

[julius]

Still jerkin' it to DeAndre youtube vids I see.

Hey, ho.. hold on. Go easy on him. Sly told me that BGD is artistic, and his father said that he loves the Kamloops Blazers and this massage bored.

 

[THE HCP]

From another thread, but applies


DeAndre Jordan started all 82 last season. And played in the fourth quarter 30 times. Average minutes in the fourth over the 82 games: 1.8.

 

[Rhal]

Leonard will be playing for the Clippers later in the season so don't stress. Leonard & Wes for Jordan will happen.

Do you have to post this in EVERY thread that Leonard is mentioned in? It isn't even a good deal for us.

 

[maxiep]

I think we need to let Leonard do what he is best at. Just as the Kings were dumb to try and make TRob a jump shooting PF it'll be silly for us to try and make Leonard an inside presence when he has never been one. He is a jump shooting big and can have a lot of value as such, Rik Smits and even Sam Perkins played significant roles for very good teams even though they were not traditional big men.

Hopefully at least two of our sophomore players can make some big improvements this year. Our roster certainly has some very nice upside potential if a few guys exceed exceptions.

Leonard doesn't know what he's good at. He's an unfinished player. We need to mold him and play to his strong suits--like being 7'0" 270 and athletic.

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

Hey, ho.. hold on. Go easy on him. Sly told me that BGD is artistic, and his father said that he loves the Kamloops Blazers and this massage bored.

Artistic? You replaced a vowel there with an "r".

It's cool. Not hating. I have a "special" cousin.

 

[dviss1]

Leonard doesn't know what he's good at. He's an unfinished player. We need to mold him and play to his strong suits--like being 7'0" 270 and athletic.

Finally someone has said it. It's about time. I'm really sick of hearing the "Leonard should be a stretch 5" bullshit. He's not good at anything yet. He is a very unfinished product. Make him work his ass off (which he is very willing to do) to become an actual Center.

 

[Draco]

Finally someone has said it. It's about time. I'm really sick of hearing the "Leonard should be a stretch 5" bullshit. He's not good at anything yet. He is a very unfinished product. Make him work his ass off (which he is very willing to do) to become an actual Center.

Its not like we are training him to take on a bunch of guys at the YMCA, he has to perform at an elite level against the top 200 players in the world. His skills need to be instinctive second nature. You just can't teach those abilities to someone in their 20's. By that age they've either learned those basics or they haven't. A player sees someone driving with the ball and knows where to go to defend. Or they don't know where to go. They see a ball being shot and know where to position themselves for a rebound or they don't.

Yes there can be fine tuning to a player but you can't overhaul their entire engine.

 

[shamelessblazer]

I think we need to let Leonard do what he is best at. Just as the Kings were dumb to try and make TRob a jump shooting PF it'll be silly for us to try and make Leonard an inside presence when he has never been one. He is a jump shooting big and can have a lot of value as such, Rik Smits and even Sam Perkins played significant roles for very good teams even though they were not traditional big men.

This is true, it's defense where we need his ass in the post playing acceptably. He'll be a great compliment to Aldridge if he has a great jumper and can play at the top of the key on offense (while letting Aldridge having the opposite elbow he's on and the post) and then get in the post on D.

Same thing next to T-Rob, who could be an offensive rebound machine if playing next to a jump shooting C. The only problem with using that lineup much is that there's no post scoring at all so you better have some guards out there who can fill it up.