Meyers Leonard - The! Thread

[Fez Hammersticks]

Athletically, for a seven footer, he's off-the-charts. He is very mobile with both feet in the post, above average lateral quickness, and runs like a deer in the open court. He throws down dramatic dunks to display his vertical ability and simply honing his athletic skills should get him six points a game in the NBA.

This year, Illinois was as dysfunctional as any team (including UCONN). He was severely misused in Bruce Weber’s motion offense. At the end of their season, Illinois was blowing it to a Nebraska team and Meyer’s was crying before the game was over. Many fans would question if he was soft, but after witnessing how dysfunctional this team was, many would state this as frustration that boiled over. Meyers is known as a player that puts everything into what he has and sometimes his emotions get the best of him.

Overall, Meyers has a high skill level. He can shoot efficiently from mid-range, already developed solid post moves already developed, and plays well in transition.

He has the skillset of a Brooke Lopez (not as quite developed offensively and I don’t know if he ever will but better defensively and not quite as soft) with more athleticism (athletic similar to Javelle McGee, but not quite as fluid), but a lot of rawness and gets frustrated too easily. To me, it is about placement with Meyers and how he is developed.

Meyers would have been better off staying another year in school and becoming a top 3 pick in next year’s weak draft class, but situations propelled him to enter this year.

LINK

Meyers Leonard - Soph.
6'11.75" w/o shoes
7'1.25" w/shoes
250 lbs.
2/7/92​

 

[SlyPokerDog]

He's Lurch in an Addams Family remake.

 

[Natebishop3]

I'm not heart broken because there really wasn't anyone that I desperately wanted more. Lamb would have been nice, but that guy is far from a sure thing. Too bad Drummond didn't fall two more spots.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I'm not deadset against him, but I just think it was kind of a reach. Lamb, Jones, Henson ... I just think there were better guys left.

 

[Natebishop3]

I'm not deadset against him, but I just think it was kind of a reach. Lamb, Jones, Henson ... I just think there were better guys left.

They all have pretty serious question marks though.

Lamb seems like another Travis Outlaw (low IQ)

Jones has red flags about his knees supposedly.

Henson... well..... I don't know. I guess my point is that there wasn't a sure fire pick at that point. It's not like Rivers or Drummond or even Ross had slipped to us. I'm not a fan of taking a big, but I guess if you're going to do it, 11th isn't so bad.

 

[Sinobas]

I'm not heart broken because there really wasn't anyone that I desperately wanted more. Lamb would have been nice, but that guy is far from a sure thing. Too bad Drummond didn't fall two more spots.

I think Leonard is actually a better prospect. All Drummond had going for hiim was his elite size/athetisim combination, but really, he's not superior to Leonard in that respect, and Leonard has more skill at this point. (and he's not a 29% FT shooter).

Leonard was an awesome pick, and I think he'll actually turn out to be better than Lillard. Teams will regret passing on him.

 

[BrianFromWA]

agree. Also, it sounds like this guy's a lot like Birdman. Maybe less colorful and a bit taller.

 

[RoyToy]

8 rebounds in the big 10 at 7-1

 

[RoyToy]

agree. Also, it sounds like this guy's a lot like Birdman. Maybe less colorful and a bit taller.

Birdman averaged like 15-20 MPG

And liked kiddy porn

 

[VanillaGorilla]

I don't necessarily think Leonard's emotion is a bad thing. As long as he accepts it and channels it into effort he'll be great!

/psycheval

 

[BrianFromWA]

Birdman averaged like 15-20 MPG

And liked kiddy porn

like I said, less colorful.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

It's not a sexy pick, but safe. He's not going to burn it up, but he can be like a Tom Owens. And that's OK. Although, a front line of LA, Leonard & Batum isn't a strong rebounding unit.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

They need to bring in a real bigman coach. Jonas V. had his way with him in the U20 games. Love his potential though.

 

[RoyToy]

It's not a sexy pick, but safe. He's not going to burn it up, but he can be like a Tom Owens. And that's OK. Although, a front line of LA, Leonard & Batum isn't a strong rebounding unit.

Idk why people compare him to Joel (other than being white)

Joel is a tough dude and plays hard - not things you hear said about Leonard.

 

[PapaG]

Anybody else hear Van Gundy being caught on audio coming back from the break saying "his first name should be Leonard, and his last name should be Meyers"?

Those kooky Van Gundy boys.

 

[BrianFromWA]

he stole that from Simmons/Ford's mock draft:

I thought long and hard about getting kooky and taking Illinois center Meyers Leonard. He's 7-foot-1, he's 20 years old, he's shockingly athletic for a white dude, and it sounds like someone accidentally reversed his name. There's just a lot to love. Then I saw Leonard's ranking on Hollinger's Draft Rater. Ouch.

 

[PapaG]

Idk why people compare him to Joel (other than being white)

Joel is a tough dude and plays hard - not things you hear said about Leonard.

His sophomore stats are very similar to Pryz's in terms of being a 14/8 player (Joel did average 4 bpg that season, while Meyers only had 3 bpg), but Leonard has much more athleticism than Joel ever had, and will thrive in the uptempo system that Olshey is clearly trying to create.

Lillard is most effective pushing the pace, and Batum, LMA, and Leonard all can run the floor, too.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

I am literally more disappointed in this draft than in any draft since Webster. Does anyone honestly think we'll look back on this and think "wow, that was the point we made the big turnaround!"?
How many big white stiffs who were "badly used" in college have there been in the middle of the first round? How many have ever amounted to jack shit?
The only thing that could save this would be if we made this pick for someone else.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

We're on pick 21 and there literally hasn't been a single pick since 11 that I wouldn't rather have had than Leonard.

(I must be angry - I'm not the kind of person to use "literally" in back to back posts.)

Y'know what would complete the picture? If this pick provoked Freeland to re-sign in Spain for 5 more years.

 

[Pinwheel1]

I have posted that I would rather have Leonard at 11 than Drummond at 6. So I am not pissed at the choice. But my whole thing is that centers in general are risky draft picks because they always get hurt and lose their athleticism. So they better be skilled to make up for it.

With the 11th pick I would have rather taken a chance on a SG. Lamb would have been my choice. But we had to get a center somehow, so........... Leonard is not a bad choice. I am OK with it.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

It's not a sexy pick, but safe.

No, you're thinking of Tyler Zeller. Who went to the Mavs. A well-run franchise.

 

[VanillaGorilla]

No, you're thinking of Tyler Zeller. Who went to the Mavs. A well-run franchise.

Ahem, Zeller went to the Cavs. Not very well run.

 

[BrianFromWA]

I'd rather have Leonard than Lamb and Sullinger for sure

 

[VanillaGorilla]

The Mavs got three picks for Zeller, so yes they are well run.

 

[PapaG]

I am literally more disappointed in this draft than in any draft since Webster. Does anyone honestly think we'll look back on this and think "wow, that was the point we made the big turnaround!"?
How many big white stiffs who were "badly used" in college have there been in the middle of the first round? How many have ever amounted to jack shit?
The only thing that could save this would be if we made this pick for someone else.

You calling Leonard a "big white stiff" tells me all I need to know about you. If Leonard was black, you'd be drooling over his athleticism and "upside". I take it you've literally not once watched Leonard play.

 

[BrianFromWA]

You calling Leonard a "big white stiff" tells me all I need to know about you. If Leonard was black, you'd be drooling over his athleticism and "upside". I take it you've literally not once watched Leonard play.

Or Croatian.

 

[PapaG]

No, you're thinking of Tyler Zeller. Who went to the Mavs. A well-run franchise.

Wait. So Leonard is a "white stiff", while Zeller is a good pick?

What????

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Ahem, Zeller went to the Cavs. Not very well run.

Check again.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

You calling Leonard a "big white stiff" tells me all I need to know about you. If Leonard was black, you'd be drooling over his athleticism and "upside". I take it you've literally not once watched Leonard play.

You're right. That was unfair. I should've said "Big American Stiff".

 

[VanillaGorilla]

Check again.

It's a "proposed trade".. But it's pretty much certain Zeller is going to the Cavs.