Meyers Leonard dropped out of the rotation

[Wizard Mentor]

4th year in the league and is still making Rookie Mistakes. But the biggest problem is that he is still making a LOT of them.

I have this problem a lot as an armchair GM, I think "let's get player X." Sure he (e.g. Whiteside) has some terrible problem, but he can fix it if he joins my favorite team! Sometimes it actually works (e.g. Harkless), and sometimes it doesn't (e.g. Mo Williams).

So, yes, as an armchair GM, I keep hoping Biebs will magically start making good decisions on the court - but I'm VERY tired of waiting. Considering how the rest of the guys are playing, I don't mind losing him "for nothing." Not all players are going to work out.

 

[Draco]

Should we keep him or let him go.... I'm up in the air about it.

He's worth his qualifying offer, but he's clearly not a max player; so it depends on the price.

CJ is certainly a max player, Crabbe in this market may be at or close to the max too. This was the point of the season; to learn what long term pieces we want to keep and fit with Lillard. Somehow this damn team wins enough we've kind of forgot that.

We have learned clearly Meyers isn't the long term answer as a starter. But we can't have all our players making the max so if its the right price maybe he stays.

 

[illmatic99]

It's hard to play guys with such glaring weaknesses in games that matter. And the few things he does well, he doesn't really bring that often.

Guys that are younger than him are taking his minutes, and they've earned it. I trust Noah on defense so much more than I do Meyers, and that guy has played like 70 games in his career. I trust Hark to rebound better and hang with PFs better than Meyers, and that guy was a castoff from his previous team.

Time to cut losses with Leonard. We've invested as much as we can in him and he's just either too mentally fragile, or too physically unable to play minutes. I hate losing him for nothing though-- we're not in a position to just let talent walk. If we can at least S&T him for a pick or two, I'd get on that asap.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

He's worth his qualifying offer, but he's clearly not a max player; so it depends on the price.

CJ is certainly a max player, Crabbe in this market may be at or close to the max too. This was the point of the season; to learn what long term pieces we want to keep and fit with Lillard. Clearly Meyers isn't the long term answer as a starter. But we can't have all our players making the max so if its the right price maybe he stays.

Interesting--if Meyers doesn't get much of an offer this summer, I wonder if he "bets on himself" again and takes the QO or a 1-year deal. If he thinks he's worthy of an 8-figure/year deal, it might be the way to go.

 

[Reep]

Guys that are younger than him are taking his minutes, and they've earned it. I trust Noah on defense so much more than I do Meyers, and that guy has played like 70 games in his career. I trust Hark to rebound better and hang with PFs better than Meyers, and that guy was a castoff from his previous team.

It's hard to argue with that. You can start to see Vonleh and Harkless being much more efficient on both ends than Meyers. I'm glad Vonleh keeps shooting threes. I think he has a nice shot and if he can get his % up from there then it is hard to see where Meyers fits on the team.

 

[riverman]

Meyers probably will mature into a Brian Scalabrine or Matt Bonner type guy..I think he'll get better and isn't far from making the leap, but I'm not attached to him. My biggest reason for letting him walk is that I'm tired of him being a negative storyline around the fanbase. . Fact is, he's just not a quick study..he'll take another year or so to get it but mostly, he's not going to make the leap from the bench..he needs to play somewhere and that's probably not here for much longer

 

[Natebishop3]

It's hard to play guys with such glaring weaknesses in games that matter. And the few things he does well, he doesn't really bring that often.

Guys that are younger than him are taking his minutes, and they've earned it. I trust Noah on defense so much more than I do Meyers, and that guy has played like 70 games in his career. I trust Hark to rebound better and hang with PFs better than Meyers, and that guy was a castoff from his previous team.

Time to cut losses with Leonard. We've invested as much as we can in him and he's just either too mentally fragile, or too physically unable to play minutes. I hate losing him for nothing though-- we're not in a position to just let talent walk. If we can at least S&T him for a pick or two, I'd get on that asap.

Yup. That's what I would go for.

 

[B-Roy]

He's useful half the time. I really don't know what to think anymore, but I think small ball is the future, and in that sense I would rather spend a lot more money on wings (which are at a premium) than Meyers.

Harkess+Crabbe+Henderson for ~30 million total? I think I would do that, then match a contract for Meyers and try to move him later. Channing useless Frye was able to get a 2nd. At the very least I think Meyers could fetch that. We shouldn't lose him for nothing.

 

[Natebishop3]

He's useful half the time. I really don't know what to think anymore, but I think small ball is the future, and in that sense I would rather spend a lot more money on wings (which are at a premium) than Meyers.

Harkess+Crabbe+Henderson for ~30 million total? I think I would do that, then match a contract for Meyers and try to move him later. Channing useless Frye was able to get a 2nd. At the very least I think Meyers could fetch that. We shouldn't lose him for nothing.

At this point, Hendo isn't really a priority. We have RFA status on Crabbe, Harkless, and Meyers, so we don't have to worry about some other team swooping in and snatching them up. I don't want Neil wasting time on Hendo, when he could be out trying to talk to Horford or Parsons or whoever.

 

[B-Roy]

At this point, Hendo isn't really a priority. We have RFA status on Crabbe, Harkless, and Meyers, so we don't have to worry about some other team swooping in and snatching them up. I don't want Neil wasting time on Hendo, when he could be out trying to talk to Horford or Parsons or whoever.

Hendo is definitely a backup plan if a major FA doesn't work out.

 

[Natebishop3]

Hendo is definitely a backup plan if a major FA doesn't work out.

But will he still be around when/if we need a backup plan? Seems like guys commit pretty fast in free agency these days.

 

[HomerLovesKoolAid]

Meyers is a tool.

Stotts will use him when the matchups call for that specific tool. Meyers is useful when we want to space the floor and he's matched up against a center who isn't too quick. Certain teams, like Golden State and Utah, really expose Meyers' defensive brain farts. It's easier to get away with it against other teams, so he'll probably still see some decent minutes.

In summary, Meyers is a tool.

 

[B-Roy]

But will he still be around when/if we need a backup plan? Seems like guys commit pretty fast in free agency these days.

Of course there is risk involved. No plan is 100% foolproof. If we strike out on all the big FAs and Hendo is also gone by then, we move on to plan C. Hopefully it doesn't come to that, but not like you can control what players are thinking (*cough* LMA *cough*).

Either way, I have the utmost faith in Neil, and not in the same type I had during the Pritchslap days.

 

[Natebishop3]

Of course there is risk involved. No plan is 100% foolproof. If we strike out on all the big FAs and Hendo is also gone by then, we move on to plan C. Hopefully it doesn't come to that, but not like you can control what players are thinking (*cough* LMA *cough*).

Either way, I have the utmost faith in Neil, and not in the same type I had during the Pritchslap days.

I think Neil is going to focus on one guy. I have no idea who that will be, but he's going to select one guy who he thinks will fit this team and go hard after him.

The question is, does he waste time on someone like Durant?

 

[B-Roy]

I think Neil is going to focus on one guy. I have no idea who that will be, but he's going to select one guy who he thinks will fit this team and go hard after him.

The question is, does he waste time on someone like Durant?

I think Neil is smart enough not to put his eggs in that basket.

 

[Natebishop3]

I think Neil is smart enough not to put his eggs in that basket.

I think Neil is going to keep a tight lid on his plans until after it's all over. It's going to be an interesting offseason.

 

[B-Roy]

I think Neil is going to keep a tight lid on his plans until after it's all over. It's going to be an interesting offseason.

You know what? The more I think about it, the more I honestly gravitate to..........

Nic Batum.

I even laughed about it before but replacing Hendo with Nic is actually a perfect fit. And the beauty is with wings like Crabbe, Harkless and Aminu, Nic won't have to play the 36+ mpg that he always did under Stotts. Hopefully that curbs the amount of injuries he has to deal with, because the biggest issue with him was always that his play tanks when he was plays injured.

 

[Draco]

But will he still be around when/if we need a backup plan? Seems like guys commit pretty fast in free agency these days.

Thats why I hope he's not spending days at dinner with Horford, Parsons, Durant or the likes. Don't go after max guys that tie up cap space where we have little chance of getting them.

Grab another Ed Davis and Aminu right away. Hendo is in that group too.

 

[Draco]

You know what? The more I think about it, the more I honestly gravitate to..........

Nic Batum.

I even laughed about it before but replacing Hendo with Nic is actually a perfect fit. And the beauty is with wings like Crabbe, Harkless and Aminu, Nic won't have to play the 36+ mpg that he always did under Stotts. Hopefully that curbs the amount of injuries he has to deal with, because the biggest issue with him was always that his play tanks when he was plays injured.

Charlotte is going to give him the 5 year max and I don't see Nic signing for $35 million less to come back here. Same reason we have no chance with Horford.

 

[Blazers Roy]

The problem with Mayers is that he adds softness to our team, i'd still like him on our team if the price is right because he is a very serviceable 10th\11th man.

Too bad reality will get in the way of that.

 

[Hobbesarable]

Yet he is the one who is adamant he is not a center, so, isn't this kind of on him as well? Don't have the lateral ability to guard pfs, so he needs to guard centers and he hates it because he is soft. Can't be soft going against the best players especially if you're number 250 on that list of 200. Then we haven't even mentioned if he at least developed a post game in the last 4 years this wouldn't even be a conversation. All he wants to do is shoot 3s and floaters. Meyers should be an oop magnet. No wishing ill on him, but man he is NOT good in the way he envisions himself playing. Embrace your size, work on rebounding, post position, FOOTWORK, get a couple post moves and use the 3pt shot as a aid to those skills, not as your only skill. He will never have the foot speed to be a 4, so he should stop working on that and start working towards the position he could excel at - center.

Well said.

 

[Natebishop3]

Thats why I hope he's not spending days at dinner with Horford, Parsons, Durant or the likes. Don't go after max guys that tie up cap space where we have little chance of getting them.

Grab another Ed Davis and Aminu right away. Hendo is in that group too.

But who is the Ed Davis/Aminu in this free agency?

 

[KeepOnRollin]

But who is the Ed Davis/Aminu in this free agency?

Kent Bazemore is one.

But we already have a lot of SG/SF types as it is.

Maybe Mirza Teletovic then? I think Olshey will find someone we least expect.

 

[Natebishop3]

I don't think it's going to be an under-the-radar guy. I think Neil is ready to swing for the fences. I think he'll go hard for a star.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

I don't think it's going to be an under-the-radar guy. I think Neil is ready to swing for the fences. I think he'll go hard for a star.

Yeah I think Dame and Neil will recruit hard - HARD - for Kevin Durant and/or Paul George. Dame is the "secret" weapon. He seems to make the players around him better; his leadership skills and charisma are obvious.

 

[Natebishop3]

Yeah I think Dame and Neil will recruit hard - HARD - for Kevin Durant and/or Paul George. Dame is the "secret" weapon. He seems to make the players around him better; his leadership skills and charisma are obvious.

PG isn't a free agent though, but I would like to see Dame make a call to Durant.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

PG isn't a free agent though, but I would like to see Dame make a call to Durant.

My bad; I thought he was. But yeah, KD has to be their target. SF is a position where we can grow the most, where we have two great bench guys, one of whom is starting.

 

[Natebishop3]

My bad; I thought he was. But yeah, KD has to be their target. SF is a position where we can grow the most, where we have two great bench guys, one of whom is starting.

If I had a choice between playing with Westbrook and playing with Dame, I would choose Dame.

Westbrook is an incredible talent. Maybe the best point guard in the league, but if I'm a star caliber player, I'm not wanting to play with him. Huge ego.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

If I had a choice between playing with Westbrook and playing with Dame, I would choose Dame.

Westbrook is an incredible talent. Maybe the best point guard in the league, but if I'm a star caliber player, I'm not wanting to play with him. Huge ego.

I don't think Westbrook makes players around him better. Dame? I think he definitely does. That's the difference maker.

 

[Natebishop3]

I don't think Westbrook makes players around him better. Dame? I think he definitely does. That's the difference maker.

Westbrook puts up insane assist numbers..... but I agree that he doesn't make those around him better. Funny how that works though, right?