Myers Leonard: Oh, the irony!

[Binx]

Put yourself in Meyers Leonard’s shoes. He toils away in obscurity and mediocrity in Portland for seven years, looking woefully inadequate to the demands of NBA play, then somehow explodes for 30 points and 12 rebounds against the world champion Warriors in the last game of the season.

He’s finally done it, right? Proved that he belongs on the Blazers. Proved that they didn’t make a mistake drafting him.

So what do they do? Trade him to a team on the other side of the country the first chance they get.

Ironically, it may have been that 30-point game that convinced Miami to pull the trigger on the deal.

 

[B-Roy]

He never scored 35, he scored 30.

The fact that you remembered him scoring more than he actually did is a perfect representation of his time here. Year over year, we all thought he was going to be better. We keep thinking he was better than he was. He could never live up to that.

 

[barfo]

It's like raaaaain, on your wedding day...

barfo

 

[wizenheimer]

the legend of Meyers has already grown since he really scored 30 points, not 35. 10 years from now it will have been a 50 point 20 rebound game

reminds me of that 70 inch Steelhead I caught on the upper Deschutes 15 years ago

 

[ABM]

It's like raaaaain, on your wedding day...

barfo

It doesn't matter. My profile pic paints an awesome picture.....

 

[chris_in_pdx]

You are correct. His 30/12 game against the Warriors inflated his trade value to the highest point of his career. And the Blazers benefited from it massively by landing Whiteside. It also probably benefited Leonard, too, because he can ball on a bad team and get numbers that will get him another fat contract, something he probably couldn't have done on the West-contending Blazers.

Additionally, I can look forward to bikini pics of his wife on IG.

 

[barfo]

It doesn't matter. My profile pic paints an awesome picture.....

Good point.

barfo

 

[Binx]

It also probably benefited Leonard, too, because he can ball on a bad team and get numbers that will get him another fat contract, something he probably couldn't have done on the West-contending Blazers.

If Leonard manages to get another fat contract from Miami, you can only tip your hat to him. Nobody in NBA history has ever been rewarded so much for contributing so little.

 

[chris_in_pdx]

If Leonard manages to get another fat contract from Miami, you can only tip your hat to him. Nobody in NBA history has ever been rewarded so much for contributing so little.

Man, that's a bold statement considering guys like Andrew Wiggins and Timofey Mosgov out there.

 

[Binx]

Man, that's a bold statement considering guys like Andrew Wiggins and Timofey Mosgov out there.

Wiggins has contributed a lot more than Meyers Leonard ever has.

 

[Pinwheel1]

If Leonard manages to get another fat contract from Miami, you can only tip your hat to him. Nobody in NBA history has ever been rewarded so much for contributing so little.

Yeah but that would mean he would be contributing all this next year. I am anxious to see what a defensive minded coach can do with a player like Meyers.

 

[GriLtCheeZ]

We would have been crazy to trade a player of his caliber to a team in the West, you know like when the Spurs traded the other Leonard to a whole nother country.

 

[AquaXI]

Did anyone ever see a Whitside/Hood/Baze/Hezonja but mostly trading away Leonard/Harkless/Turner whom everyone agrees was the epitome of INCONSISTENT! What a ride.

 

[BlayZa]

other side of the country? fine with me

we've had a fuckin blinder so far

turned Turnover, Meyers, and Moe into Bazemore and Whiteside, let aminu walk, resigned Hood and got a steal in the draft.

Nurk is back before we know it too.

it's a great 24hrs to be a Blazer!

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

Meyers went out on a high note.

 

[ABM]

Who's gonna love South Beach the most?

 

[Strenuus]

I'm still trying to decide what the biggest moment of this year was:

Dame hitting the game winner

Game 7

Or having the worst player on the roster for the last 7 years OFF THIS FUCKING TEAM FINALLY.

 

[Strenuus]

Who's gonna love South Beach the most?View attachment 26792

Is that cuba gooding Jr photobombing?

 

[blazerfan11]

If Leonard manages to get another fat contract from Miami, you can only tip your hat to him. Nobody in NBA history has ever been rewarded so much for contributing so little.

Miles Plumlee is worse. 4 years $50 million.

In both starts this season for Meyers Leonard, the Trail Blazers won.
One of those was a 132-105 throttling of the Utah Jazz, who were supposed to be the best defense in the NBA at the time, and had the defensive player of the year playing center. Meyers shot 6-7, 4-5 on threes and obviously had an impact.
That game against Utah and the last game of the season mattered as we know otherwise the trailblazers would not have made it to the Western Conference finals.
Then there were some good performances in the playoffs this season and against Memphis a few years back.

 

[blazerfan11]

If Leonard manages to get another fat contract from Miami, you can only tip your hat to him. Nobody in NBA history has ever been rewarded so much for contributing so little.

Timofey Mozgov. 4 years $64 million.

 

[yenniedn]

Is that cuba gooding Jr photobombing?

Oh my lawd, really?

 

[blazerfan11]

If Leonard manages to get another fat contract from Miami, you can only tip your hat to him. Nobody in NBA history has ever been rewarded so much for contributing so little.

Joakim Noah 4 years $72.6 million

I consider contributing to be making a positive difference. Playing isn’t enough.

 

[Paine Tablet]

The pathological smearing. These past few days are rough for fans of the players. What separates the fan who sees numbers and wins vs. the fan who sees showmanship, camaraderie, effort, sincerity, loyalty, and time spent? Most people are somewhat in-between, but the real Meyers haters are above all of it - they ignore every noun used above AND they ignore numbers and wins.

 

[James lamphear]

Leonard need a good year in Miami or might be out of the league after this coming season.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

He blocked more fans on social media than in actual games.

Fact.

 

[BlazerWookee]

He blocked more fans on social media than in actual games.

Fact.

How many fans were blocked in actual games?

 

[HailBlazers]

Even if it took him that long to shine enough in one playoff game for us to trade for Hassan Whiteside than Hey the End justifys the Means!! Much Love Meyers

 

[blazerfan11]

Leonard need a good year in Miami or might be out of the league after this coming season.

Meyers shoots the ball too well to be out of the league after this coming season, unless he decides to quit. A bad year for him (shooting wise) is an OK year for most players.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

How many fans were blocked in actual games?

 

[James lamphear]

Meyers shoots the ball too well to be out of the league after this coming season, unless he decides to quit. A bad year for him (shooting wise) is an OK year for most players.

Remember who he went to Miami a team if you don't play defense you don't get off the bench. Yes Leonard offensive is pretty good but his defense is below average and he sure not rim protector. But I hope proves me wrong.