Should the Blazers extend Meyers Leonard contract for $3.1 million?

[The_Lillard_King]

I don't buy into this by any stretch. We don't see the workouts at practice and if you revisit his exit interview, he was very focused on what needs work. The staff and team would disagree with you here about his progress and I trust their judgement. Meyers didn't play enough to show what progress he's made. He has a lot to work on but again, he's the first to admit it. I give the kid some credit. Rolo said the same when asked about him. To not like a player is one thing but to ignore any objectivity about his progress is just personal bias

So I like him, but I didn't see any progress. I personally don't buy into everything staff says about players. I don't recall players or staff saying anything negative about any player. And I wonder, If he did progress so much, why did he seem to get less minutes than his first year.

I hope the best for Leonard and haven't given up hope (mainly because he is very young for a big) . . . but I didn't see anything that makes me believe he improved last year and have no personal bias again him (I even voted that I hope and believe he will be extended)

Not trying to argue with you, I even support you on what you say about Mo, but you watched all the games, did you' see Leonard improve from year 1 to year 2?

 

[riverman]

So I like him, but I didn't see any progress. I personally don't buy into everything staff says about players. I don't recall players or staff saying anything negative about any player. And I wonder, If he did progress so much, why did he seem to get less minutes than his first year.

I hope the best for Leonard and haven't given up hope (mainly because he is very young for a big) . . . but I didn't see anything that makes me believe he improved last year and have no personal bias again him (I even voted that I hope and believe he will be extended)

Not trying to argue with you, I even support you on what you say about Mo, but you watched all the games, did you' see Leonard improve from year 1 to year 2?

Meyers rookie season he played a lot because it was a player development season and we didn't have TRob, Last season was about winning and TRob and early season Freeland won the rotation spots.
We also did not have Robin Lopez for Meyers rookie year. He had 3 guys to beat to get into the rotation and he's not ready. This summer will be huge for his future. I am still optimistic about him being able to contribute without breaking the bank off the bench

 

[BlayZa]

I'd be surprised if we couldnt pick up a decent FA player for that price. ML just looks so lost out there...

 

[H.C.]

Anyone else think that he's playing out of position?

He's a PF.

I don't think he is quick enough to be a Power Forward... He has good straight line speed but physically he doesn't seem to have the lateral quickness for a PF. Have this feeling Nards has less foot speed than Lopez. Hope I'm wrong but I don't see Nards as a rotation player.

did you' see Leonard improve from year 1 to year 2?

There was about a three or four game stretch where I was surprised by how well he as playing off the bench. Running the floor, playing with a big body. Rebounding. It was certainly made me think.. hmm maybe he can play... But three or four games imo isn't worth 3.1m

 

[PDXFonz]

im better than greg oden and hasheem thabeet... that means nothing. haha

Let's start a 3v3 team bro.

 

[Sinobas]

I don't think he is quick enough to be a Power Forward...

No, he is plenty quick enough. You might be thinking about his delayed reactions.

His agility test was 11.34, which is better than guys like Tyrus Thomas, Ken Faried and Chris Bosh.

 

[Sinobas]

It's rare for a player to suddenly come on after 2 years. Most players come to the NBA without 4 years of college, but you usually have a good idea what you've got by the end of their 2nd year. There are only a handful of players that took years to develop.

 

[Mediocre Man]

It's rare for a player to suddenly come on after 2 years. Most players come to the NBA without 4 years of college, but you usually have a good idea what you've got by the end of their 2nd year. There are only a handful of players that took years to develop.

Exactly. 2 years of major college ball, 2 years on NB ball, and absolutely zero improvement on the defensive end to show for it. It's different if you slowly see something, but I think he actually regressed last year.

 

[Strenuus]

Let's start a 3v3 team bro.

For real. I can wave a towel better than Patty Mills. Dem Skillz pay the billz.


I hate that I just did that.

 

[jlprk]

There are some real beliebers on this board.

 

[Blazinaway]

I don't buy into this by any stretch. We don't see the workouts at practice and if you revisit his exit interview, he was very focused on what needs work. The staff and team would disagree with you here about his progress and I trust their judgement. Meyers didn't play enough to show what progress he's made. He has a lot to work on but again, he's the first to admit it. I give the kid some credit. Rolo said the same when asked about him. To not like a player is one thing but to ignore any objectivity about his progress is just personal bias

did U watch him play last y? - IMO if anything he regressed, it is what it is and from my view it ain't pretty

 

[riverman]

There are some real beliebers on this board.

Not me, I think he's got a lot to learn but as a 3rd string project, I'd keep him around but demand he get a crew cut and beat Beiber one on one

 

[riverman]

did U watch him play last y? - IMO if anything he regressed, it is what it is and from my view it ain't pretty

Nobody watched him play last season, he wasn't on the court. He was strictly garbage time and never played enough to break a sweat. Sort of like saying Crabbe is lost or Earl Watson didn't have game. He got passed over by 3 guys who were all NBA ready and all quite a bit more experienced. I give the kid a season or two to compete at this level

 

[H.C.]

No, he is plenty quick enough. You might be thinking about his delayed reactions.

His agility test was 11.34, which is better than guys like Tyrus Thomas, Ken Faried and Chris Bosh.

stats don't measure everything. eye test says he has slow feet.

 

[jlprk]

It's rare for a player to suddenly come on after 2 years. Most players come to the NBA without 4 years of college, but you usually have a good idea what you've got by the end of their 2nd year. There are only a handful of players that took years to develop.

Over the years, this discussion keeps happening. It's obvious that some player or head coach can't cut it, but sentimental fools just can't let go. "Just one more year! I'm begging you!" One year later, both sides say the same things about the same guy.

Exactly. 2 years of major college ball, 2 years on NB ball, and absolutely zero improvement on the defensive end to show for it. It's different if you slowly see something, but I think he actually regressed last year.

He regressed during his rookie year to the thumb-sucking level. He showed no changes, up or down, during his second year.

 

[riverman]

stats don't measure everything. eye test says he has slow feet.

So there are a couple of options. Hire Rodman to teach him to rebound or join the cast of Dancing with the Stars. At least now that he's married he should somehow find his inner rage and channel it on defense

 

[riverman]

Over the years, this discussion keeps happening. It's obvious that some player or head coach can't cut it, but sentimental fools just can't let go. "Just one more year! I'm begging you!" One year later, both sides say the same things about the same guy.



He regressed during his rookie year to the thumb-sucking level. He showed no changes, up or down, during his second year.

Sentimental fool, Just one more year and I'm begging you...aren't those Etta James songs?

 

[Sinobas]

Stotts gave Leonard a chance as a stretch 4, which I think is the position at which he has his only hope of being a decent nba player, and he didn't do much with that opportunity. He was very hesistant to shoot, and didn't shoot well from the outside (only took 42 jumpers all season and made 13 of them).

 

[santeesioux]

Isn't the plan to go after a max free agent next summer? I'd rather have an extra 3 mil to work with if that's the case. Unless Meyers explodes this upcoming season they could probably bring him back for cheap anyway.

 

[Rhal]

It's rare for a player to suddenly come on after 2 years. Most players come to the NBA without 4 years of college, but you usually have a good idea what you've got by the end of their 2nd year. There are only a handful of players that took years to develop.

Its not that uncommon especially for bigmen. The draft is all about potential now and players are drafted based on what they can become so you have these players, like Meyers, who should never have come out into the draft in the first place. Just off the top of my head Deandre Jordan, Javale Mcgee, Joel Przybilla, Larry Sanders, Roy Hibbert ALL looked like they were destined to be out of the league after their second year.

 

[jlprk]

They may have been bad, but they didn't look THIS clueless.

 

[HailBlazers]

Lotta clueless up in this thread. I'm behind Oshley whatever he decides to do.

 

[oldmangrouch]

TRob and Leonard both look pretty clueless at times.

The difference is that TRob has a great motor and goes hard on every play. Leonard...not so much.

 

[magnifier661]

I would not extend shit for Leonard. The kid hasn't warranted anything but being a water boy

 

[Denny Crane]

Extending him for a season doesn't mean they're stuck with him next summer.

Unless I misread the CBA FAQ, rookie scale contracts are 2 years plus to years with team options. This would be the 1st team option right?

 

[magnifier661]

Extending him for a season doesn't mean they're stuck with him next summer.

Unless I misread the CBA FAQ, rookie scale contracts are 2 years plus to years with team options. This would be the 1st team option right?

Yes, you have this extension and a qualifying offer.

 

[e_blazer]

The Blazers picked up their option on Leonard last September for this coming season. This thread is asking whether they should pick up his option for the 2015-2016 season. They have to do that by October if they want to retain their rights to him. Seems a bit premature to me to be asking this now. Wait and see how this summer and training camp go and then decide.

 

[BlazerBeav]

Given the lack of decent bigs in basketball, I just don't see anyway we let him walk at this point. I get just as frustrated watching him play as the rest of you, but I think the kid could still turn into something - he's certainly more worthy of the chance than Claver.

 

[Draco]

Extending him for a season doesn't mean they're stuck with him next summer.

Unless I misread the CBA FAQ, rookie scale contracts are 2 years plus to years with team options. This would be the 1st team option right?

Wrong. The Blazers already extended his contract for one season which is 2014-15. They have to decide on the 4th year team option which applies to the 2015-16 season; the decision has to be made before this season starts in 4 months on Oct 31.

 

[Draco]

The Blazers picked up their option on Leonard last September for this coming season. This thread is asking whether they should pick up his option for the 2015-2016 season. They have to do that by October if they want to retain their rights to him. Seems a bit premature to me to be asking this now. Wait and see how this summer and training camp go and then decide.

Well yes they have 4 months to make that final decision but in my opinion that makes it a near term decision for this offseason. Hell we've been talking about a LaMarcus contract for 18 months and after that we're still 12 months away from making a final decision there.