Meyers Leonard

[Blazer4ever]

He improved immensely.
His defense is now respectable, his offensive game was always very good, not many bigs with his inside out (or outside in) game. I like his energy level, I like that he works for others on offense setting screens, but mostly it's the defense that has been his achilles heel but is almost a strength now.
Very encouraging

 

[theprunetang]

There is literally no one in the NBA who is as adept at flexing after a rebound as Meyers.

 

[BoomChakaLaka]

$10 million dollar man!

 

[ripcityboy]

Probably could find some interest for him now on the trade market. But given that our bigs are one of our strengths, why screw with team depth? The most we might get is a whole lot of nothing. Just sayin.' Depends on the trade.

 

[BonesJones]

His defense is not respectable... He's one of the worst pick-n-roll defending bigs in the league.

 

[BonesJones]

Probably could find some interest for him now on the trade market. But given that our bigs are one of our strengths, why screw with team depth?

Why not trade Meyers? Really? If we could trade him for any sort of expiring, I'd do that in a heartbeat.

 

[ripcityboy]

Why not trade Meyers? Really? If we could trade him for any sort of expiring, I'd do that in a heartbeat.

I could see him as part of a deal. But it would depend who else with and what we got in return. As Neil likes to point out, he likes deals that work out for both teams.

 

[BonesJones]

I could see him as part of a deal. But it would depend who else with and what we got in return. As Neil likes to point out, he likes deals that work out for both teams.

Plumlee didn't really work out for Denver. He knew it was a steal.

I'm just thinking: if we could shed Meyers and Harkless for free, you absolutely do it because:

You could try and set up a contingency where we attach a 1st to Turner to a team with space if we're able to sign valuable enough free agent(s) for up to $18M (which is how much space we'd have if we shed ET, ML, & MH). We could also likely sign Cousins by trading Nurkic for a couple 1sts and space for Cousins if we wanted to be really aggressive. Wed have very few players, but we'd have 4 starters (Dame, CJ, Zach, Cousins) along with the Room-MLE and at least a full stock of firsts (-1 from ET, +1/+2 from Nurkic).

If we kept ET (And probably if we kept one of Moe/Meyers), we'd have our full MLE and BAE, instead of just a tax-payer MLE. We could also conduct sign-and-trades while probably keeping the Full - MLE (Ex. Moe to MIL, ET and a pick to 3rd team, Middleton to POR - Apprently Middleton is unhappy with coaching).

We could create a lot of flexibility for next summer if we could shed Meyers without attaching value to him.

 

[SIeepwalker]

I could see him as part of a deal. But it would depend who else with and what we got in return. As Neil likes to point out, he likes deals that work out for both teams.

It's just funny anytime someone mention that quote. Like Olshey could ever say "What I really like in a trade is when I can fuck another team over and get a steal !"

 

[ripcityboy]

It's just funny anytime someone mention that quote. Like Olshey could ever say "What I really like in a trade is when I can fuck another team over and get a steal !"

Olshey I think wants to make it look on the outside he's at least interested in doing beneficial business with his partners. I don't think he's going cultivate an image like Ainge. Who is rather proud that you'd think he'd drop his fellow GM's in a vat of lemon juice after giving them too many paper cuts. A couple of years after the trade, Olshey probably doesn't give a shit what people think.

 

[ripcityboy]

Plumlee didn't really work out for Denver. He knew it was a steal.

I'm just thinking: if we could shed Meyers and Harkless for free, you absolutely do it because:

You could try and set up a contingency where we attach a 1st to Turner to a team with space if we're able to sign valuable enough free agent(s) for up to $18M (which is how much space we'd have if we shed ET, ML, & MH). We could also likely sign Cousins by trading Nurkic for a couple 1sts and space for Cousins if we wanted to be really aggressive. Wed have very few players, but we'd have 4 starters (Dame, CJ, Zach, Cousins) along with the Room-MLE and at least a full stock of firsts (-1 from ET, +1/+2 from Nurkic).

If we kept ET (And probably if we kept one of Moe/Meyers), we'd have our full MLE and BAE, instead of just a tax-payer MLE. We could also conduct sign-and-trades while probably keeping the Full - MLE (Ex. Moe to MIL, ET and a pick to 3rd team, Middleton to POR - Apprently Middleton is unhappy with coaching).

We could create a lot of flexibility for next summer if we could shed Meyers without attaching value to him.

Fuck. Denver just wanted to get rid of Nurkic. He was being a total pain. Almost every Denver fan I've talked to are like are happy he's doing well, but weren't too sad to see him go.

And any contingency plan to get rid of Turner I am for....

 

[stampedehero]

Fuck. Denver just wanted to get rid of Nurkic. He was being a total pain. Almost every Denver fan I've talked to are like are happy he's doing well, but weren't too sad to see him go.

And any contingency plan to get rid of Turner I am for....

Turner = Overpaid +Underwhelming

 

[Sarni]

Why not trade Meyers? Really? If we could trade him for any sort of expiring, I'd do that in a heartbeat.

It saves us tax money but we would not be able to do anything with that cap space anyway in the market. We are not going to have cap flexibility any time in the near future, the only difference whether we will be able to use a small MLE ($4.5million or so) or full MLE ($9million) to acquire players via free agency. It does make a difference (see New Orleans and Randle) but not a huge one. Definitely would not attach any picks whatsoever if I were to get rid of Meyers at this point. He's going to be an expiring himself next year and could be used to acquire good talent then.

 

[Mediocre Man]

He improved immensely.
His defense is now respectable, his offensive game was always very good, not many bigs with his inside out (or outside in) game. I like his energy level, I like that he works for others on offense setting screens, but mostly it's the defense that has been his achilles heel but is almost a strength now.
Very encouraging

His defense is NOT respectable. His feet are slow, and he gets lost on the pick and roll. He has the basketball instincts of a tree.

 

[BonesJones]

It saves us tax money but we would not be able to do anything with that cap space anyway in the market. We are not going to have cap flexibility any time in the near future, the only difference whether we will be able to use a small MLE ($4.5million or so) or full MLE ($9million) to acquire players via free agency. It does make a difference (see New Orleans and Randle) but not a huge one. Definitely would not attach any picks whatsoever if I were to get rid of Meyers at this point. He's going to be an expiring himself next year and could be used to acquire good talent then.

That's a huge difference when your talking about free agent money, and Randle is a perfect example. It also opens up our BAE and the ability to do sign-and-trades.

Meyers can be used to acquire talent? He has no value. Having zero value is an upgrade compared to past years.

I'm also talking about if we can dump him with no strings attached.

 

[dviss1]

Look....

IDGAF... How well Meyers does this season.

It is only on offense and he is a horrible defensive liability.

The very moment Neil's biggest mistake is off of my favorite team will be one of my happiest days.

I want him to play, just for another team.

 

[Lanny]

He improved immensely.
His defense is now respectable, his offensive game was always very good, not many bigs with his inside out (or outside in) game. I like his energy level, I like that he works for others on offense setting screens, but mostly it's the defense that has been his achilles heel but is almost a strength now.
Very encouraging

The problem with his offensive game is that after 6 years he still waits to be wide wide wide open before he takes a three point shot. It's ridiculous.
His inside game has improved but he's just not there often enough.
Great rebounder. Very good free throw shooter. He's careful with the ball.

 

[Blazer4ever]

Meyers has his flaws, the tree comparison is true, but I think right now he's at least our 2nd best option behind Aminu.
He's no longer a liability on defense, he makes a positive impact on the game, he's a threat on offense and he's big for a 4, which gives us 2 real bigs, to set screens and control the paint.

 

[wizenheimer]

Meyers has his flaws, the tree comparison is true, but I think right now he's at least our 2nd best option behind Aminu.
He's no longer a liability on defense, he makes a positive impact on the game, he's a threat on offense and he's big for a 4, which gives us 2 real bigs, to set screens and control the paint.

Meyers doesn't really play PF though. You are what you can defend and Stotts has been pretty careful to play Meyers only when he can favorably matchup with another team's big man, almost always the slowest. If you look at the Blazers 20 most used 5 man lineups, there isn't one that Meyers appears in that doesn't have Aminu or Zach in as well, and they are the ones defending 4's and stretch-4's

it's why Meyers hardly played last season. When he did, it required Nurkic or Davis to be out on the perimeter chasing after the mobile bigs while Meyers camped in the paint defensively scowling, slow, and stupid

Olshey is such an ass as a GM...he cleared away players and 'designed' a 2nd unit that forced Stotts to use Turner and Meyers. That was the accomplishment of Olshey's off-season. Isn't it great? When the only thing done in an off-season is to try and maximize the opportunities for players the caliber of Turner and Meyers; this coming after a humiliating sweep in the playoffs. Yeah, that's some world class management; meanwhile, the clock of Dame's prime is ticking away

 

[BonesJones]

Meyers has his flaws, the tree comparison is true, but I think right now he's at least our 2nd best option behind Aminu.
He's no longer a liability on defense, he makes a positive impact on the game, he's a threat on offense and he's big for a 4, which gives us 2 real bigs, to set screens and control the paint.

What.....?

He is a bigger liability at the 4 than the 5, because he has zero lateral quickness! You think he can handle the Kuzmas, Morrises, Barnses, Sarics, and Millsaps of the league?

Control the paint? Meyers has 1 block in like his last 500 minutes...

 

[wizenheimer]

What.....?

He is a bigger liability at the 4 than the 5, because he has zero lateral quickness! You think he can handle the Kuzmas, Morrises, Barnses, Sarics, and Millsaps of the league?

Control the paint? Meyers has 1 block in like his last 500 minutes...

yeah, I think we need to slow the roll of praise for Meyers, especially for his defense

* last season, with Ed Davis as backup C the Blazers ranked 8th in the NBA in defensive rating at 106.4 points/100-possessions. Portland also ranked 13th in opponent FG% in the 3'-10' zone at .383

* this season, with Meyers (and occasionally Zach) as backup C Blazers rank 19th at 110.3 points. Basically a 4 point regression. They also have fallen to 23rd in opponent FG% in the 3'-10' zone at .414

now, not all of this defensive regression is on Meyers. Harkless has been injured and he's one of Portland's best defenders. And of course, Olshey exchanged Napier and Connaughton for Curry and Stauskas. That was a bad trade in terms of defense

 

[calvin natt]

Meyers is brutal defensively. Not sure the % but I would put it at around 75% of his fouls come because he is out of position or *thinks* he is in the right spot to make a play and cant/doesn't. Hes late to almost everything. He cannot guard anyone on the perimeter (which is fine, he's 7 ft tall) but then cannot effectively guard anyone in the paint enough of the time. If the NBA allowed straight Syracuse-type 2-3 zone, he might be helpful. None of this is a lack of effort or desire. He simply does not have the sense or BBIQ if you will to figure it out. I do not think coaching is a factor either. Meyers is Meyers. He has helped offensively at times, he can space the floor, and seems to be a great teammate. That's all.

 

[calvin natt]

Also, for all the "But he makes $10m!" people - if Meyers played the exact same offense AND played good defense he'd be getting a WHOLE lot more money. His age, his size, athleticism? If he shot like this, just decent, and could defend the rim?

 

[wizenheimer]

Also, for all the "But he makes $10m!" people - if Meyers played the exact same offense AND played good defense he'd be getting a WHOLE lot more money. His age, his size, athleticism? If he shot like this, just decent, and could defend the rim?

LOL...in other words, if Meyers was a different player than what he is he'd be worth more money

I like this alternate reality...in it I don't have 2 ex-wives, I'm not losing my hair, and I bought lots of Apple and Amazon stock in 1998. I'm enjoying life on my private island and it's way more than big enough for the airstrip and my private jet...wait, I have two jets, one green, one blue.

 

[calvin natt]

LOL...in other words, if Meyers was a different player than what he is he'd be worth more money

I like this alternate reality...in it I don't have 2 ex-wives, I'm not losing my hair, and I bought lots of Apple and Amazon stock in 1998. I'm enjoying life on my private island and it's way more than big enough for the airstrip and my private jet...wait, I have two jets, one green, one blue.

What are you talking about. My point is people piss and moan about him making $10m. They want him to defend better, pass better, not foul, block more shots. Well that'd be great. He would be making $25M. He does not get $25M. He gets 10.

 

[wizenheimer]

What are you talking about. My point is people piss and moan about him making $10m. They want him to defend better, pass better, not foul, block more shots. Well that'd be great. He would be making $25M. He does not get $25M. He gets 10.

do you really think there's anything persuasive about that argument???

you're essentially saying if Meyers was Nikola Jokic or Joel Embiid or Rudy Gobert or Steven Adams, he'd be getting 25M a year. But he's not any of those guys and that strange logic isn't going to convince anyone to cut Meyers any slack about his contract. He is what he is and that's overpaid

last season Meyers ranked 126th in salary, but 296th in winshares. He may very well do better this season, but he's already raked in half of his 41M dollar deal and Portland has been robbed; and the season ain't over

 

[calvin natt]

do you really think there's anything persuasive about that argument???

you're essentially saying if Meyers was Nikola Jokic or Joel Embiid or Rudy Gobert or Steven Adams, he'd be getting 25M a year. But he's not any of those guys and that strange logic isn't going to convince anyone to cut Meyers any slack about his contract. He is what he is and that's overpaid

last season Meyers ranked 126th in salary, but 296th in winshares. He may very well do better this season, but he's already raked in half of his 41M dollar deal and Portland has been robbed; and the season ain't over

What I am writing is that bitching about Meyers not doing all the things he cannot do is not only getting old and pointless, but this is who he is, and if he WAS doing all the things people wanted him to do, he would be a near max player. its like bitching that Nik Stauskas doesn't do this or that. No shit. Its Nik Stauskas. Meyers makes $10M. he makes what Terence Ross, Jon Leuer, Tony Snell, Jared Dudley, Dellavedova and Norman Powell make. He does not make Jokic money. Its asinine to bitch that Meyers does not do this/that/etc. Of course he doesn't. He isn't a great player. It's like if the Willamette University basketball coach bitched about his big kid who couldn't run/dribble/dunk over people. Yeah no shit, if he could do those things he would not be at Willamette he'd be at Duke. Meyers is a role playing bench guy who makes 10M - sure it would be great if it was less. It isn't. And there are plenty of other guys in this league getting money like that.

 

[Scalma]

What I am writing is that bitching about Meyers not doing all the things he cannot do is not only getting old and pointless, but this is who he is, and if he WAS doing all the things people wanted him to do, he would be a near max player. its like bitching that Nik Stauskas doesn't do this or that. No shit. Its Nik Stauskas. Meyers makes $10M. he makes what Terence Ross, Jon Leuer, Tony Snell, Jared Dudley, Dellavedova and Norman Powell make. He does not make Jokic money. Its asinine to bitch that Meyers does not do this/that/etc. Of course he doesn't. He isn't a great player. It's like if the Willamette University basketball coach bitched about his big kid who couldn't run/dribble/dunk over people. Yeah no shit, if he could do those things he would not be at Willamette he'd be at Duke. Meyers is a role playing bench guy who makes 10M - sure it would be great if it was less. It isn't. And there are plenty of other guys in this league getting money like that.

Two wrongs don’t make a right though. But I agree, he is who he is. As someone who’s trashed him plenty, it’s gotten boring. Be thankful that we may be able to trade him. Couldn’t say that a couple months ago.

 

[Boob-No-More]

do you really think there's anything persuasive about that argument???

you're essentially saying if Meyers was Nikola Jokic or Joel Embiid or Rudy Gobert or Steven Adams, he'd be getting 25M a year. But he's not any of those guys and that strange logic isn't going to convince anyone to cut Meyers any slack about his contract. He is what he is and that's overpaid

last season Meyers ranked 126th in salary, but 296th in winshares. He may very well do better this season, but he's already raked in half of his 41M dollar deal and Portland has been robbed; and the season ain't over

Meyers is more than earning his paycheck THIS SEASON. And, right now, that's all that matters. I posted earlier in one of the other Meyer bashfests how he is actually significantly underpaid compared to what other back up centers got in the summer of 2016 (and that was only the healthy ones, Mozgov, Biyombo, Mahinmi, Mile Plumlee, etc. not the old, injured guys like Joakim Noah).

Of course, his game is flawed. That's not news to anyone. The fact that he seems to have realized his limitations and is focused on doing what he does well (setting screens, rebounding, knocking down open 3-pointers and dunking) makes him a solid back up center who is not, and should not be starting. The reality is, that's worth $10 million a year in today's NBA. Would I trade him? Fuck yes, but given our lack of depth up front, I'd want a back up power forward who can provide comparable production so we can move Zach Collins to back up center, which seems to be his best position.

BNM

 

[BlayZa]

well.....
he's definitely playing better
but to say his defense is respectable for a 7-1 athletic powerful big is completely inaccurate
he is OK at screens
he is terrible at boxing out
terrible at blocks
terrible at reading the court

he's better. but with his physical assets he should be murdering the boards n being super active n getting a couple of blocks a game. he has no timing.