The Blazers should extend Meyers Leonard

[riverman]

I honestly think the organization may trade high on Meyers and I know he's popular, but his trade value is high right now and might not be later. He's also a kid with potential to make re-signing him a good bet...just haven't seen Meyers the starter for 82 games yet.

 

[42N8Bounce]

It's going to come down to whether him extending now would hamper next offseasons plans.

(extension amount next year) - (qualifying offer next offseason)

If olshey can save 5+ MM of cap room by waiting, it could be a strategy, but then we might end up paying more annual salary if he gets a big offer next year.

Great point. His qualifying offer is only $4,210,880. The Blazers are looking at having about $32M of cap space next summer. If we sign him to an extension now, that takes away around $7M from that CAP space early on. Max contracts will be in the $20-25M range. It really depends on how Olshey want to play it. Is he willing to risk Meyers going out there and getting a crazy big offer?

 

[Chris Craig]

I honestly think the organization may trade high on Meyers and I know he's popular, but his trade value is high right now and might not be later. He's also a kid with potential to make re-signing him a good bet...just haven't seen Meyers the starter for 82 games yet.

Not sure what we could get for him, if it would be worth giving him up? I don't know that it is that high right now.

 

[riverman]

Not sure what we could get for him, if it would be worth giving him up? I don't know that it is that high right now.

The point is it may never be higher after the Memphis series they have something like Linsanity going for both Meyers and CJ..CJ they have shown they will hang on to...Meyers, not so much and they did bring in a bunch of bigs.

 

[UncleCliffy'sDaddy]

Meyers is an Olshey guy who has come light years since his rookie year and hopefully he is nowhere near to hitting his ceiling yet. I think NO would have to get one hell of an offer before he would consider trading him.

 

[Chris Craig]

The point is it may never be higher after the Memphis series they have something like Linsanity going for both Meyers and CJ..CJ they have shown they will hang on to...Meyers, not so much and they did bring in a bunch of bigs.

Maybe if the right deal reveals itself I can see a trade happening. But, I'd rather gamble on his potential and see what he becomes/develops into. I am tired of incubating good players and then sending them to other teams to become allstars

 

[riverman]

Meyers is an Olshey guy who has come light years since his rookie year and hopefully he is nowhere near to hitting his ceiling yet. I think NO would have to get one hell of an offer before he would consider trading him.

Completely agree but I'd trade him for Paul George in a heartbeat..I know it wouldn't be enough but if he got that deal done, I'd consider it success

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

Completely agree but I'd trade him for Paul George in a heartbeat..I know it wouldn't be enough but if he got that deal done, I'd consider it success

I see you've taken advantage of the new Oregon laws, riverman!!

 

[riverman]

I se e you've taken advantage of the new Oregon laws, riverman!!

Nah..just throwing out a scenario..I think Meyers is worth extending but think it's a situation that is intriguing seeing as how the front office has dealt with it...and especially seeing how poorly he defended Plumlee yesterday in the video..Plumlee is a better player now. Meyers grew up next to Indiana, Bird likes white guys who can shoot. It's possible

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

Nah..just throwing out a scenario..I think Meyers is worth extending but think it's a situation that is intriguing seeing as how the front office has dealt with it...and especially seeing how poorly he defended Plumlee yesterday in the video..Plumlee is a better player now. Meyers grew up next to Indiana, Bird likes white guys who can shoot. It's possible

Just tossing you ish. I expect Meyers is going to continue to grow. I'd love a Paul George, for sure, I just can't see a Bird giving him up. I don't think we have enough to deal for him, at least not until we see some of these other young guys play during real games (i.e. Cliff, Vonleh, etc. need to show they are going to be quality players, even if they're not quite ready, but enough to intrigue trade partners so we could send potentially send along in any deal).

 

[UncleCliffy'sDaddy]

Nah..just throwing out a scenario..I think Meyers is worth extending but think it's a situation that is intriguing seeing as how the front office has dealt with it...and especially seeing how poorly he defended Plumlee yesterday in the video..Plumlee is a better player now. Meyers grew up next to Indiana, Bird likes white guys who can shoot. It's possible

From what Wheels was saying last night (and a lot of the Zeroes have been saying also all summer) is that the Blazers were very happy and impressed by the job he did on Marc Gasol in the playoffs. They think he's grown leaps and bounds (obviously) and has the tools to get even better defensively. I'd love to have Paul George, but find another way.

 

[riverman]

Just tossing you ish. I expect Meyers is going to continue to grow. I'd love a Paul George, for sure, I just can't see a Bird giving him up. I don't think we have enough to deal for him, at least not until we see some of these other young guys play during real games (i.e. Cliff, Vonleh, etc. need to show they are going to be quality players, even if they're not quite ready, but enough to intrigue trade partners so we could send potentially send along in any deal).

There was an article last week about George not being happy with them moving him to PF in Indiana so that's a factor

 

[handiman]

contracts cant have 2 separate options, cool idea though

Shoot. I must have been remembering the old CBA's exception. Well, let's get 'er on the table for the next CBA!

 

[Sinobas]

I wonder if it would be possible for them to give him a raise this year, in exchange for taking a bit less in future years. This would be a great year to do that since we're under the minimum salary.

 

[Sinobas]

You know, just because you had an idea for a post doesn't mean you actually have to post it.

Just because you had an idea for a reply doesn't mean you should make it.

 

[42N8Bounce]

No word yet on the Meyers Leonard extension. Do you think the Blazers will lock him up, or let him go become a restricted free agent? Has he shown he deserves a big contract with his preseason play?

 

[BBert]

I don't know what extension he's eligible for but I'd gamble that signing him now will be cheaper than signing him later.

Any Salary cap/free agent implications if they do?

 

[riverman]

He had 9 pts and 1 rebound last night as a starter

 

[ripcityboy]

I think you get it done even if he only becomes a solid starter. This team desperately needs to form a foundation of players and signing Meyers would do that. Plus, your saving yourself money in the long run. This is pretty much a slam dunk move!

 

[Trackjack]

Signing now properly would save alot of money but than you might be stuck with him if he doesn't pan out too. I don't mind paying him the money if has a great year so I would wait. Same for Harkless because he is in the same boat as Myers.

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

I doubt they sign him to an extension now. His cap number will be lower next year when free agency starts giving us more room to work with. Then after using up the space, we could go over the cap resigning Leonard/matching whatever he gets on the market.

 

[Orion Bailey]

Well, I was gonna like this...

I think you get it done even if he only becomes a solid starter. This team desperately needs to form a foundation of players and signing Meyers would do that. Plus, your saving yourself money in the long run. This is pretty much a slam dunk move!

But then this got posted and made more sense.

I doubt they sign him to an extension now. His cap number will be lower next year when free agency starts giving us more room to work with. Then after using up the space, we could go over the cap resigning Leonard/matching whatever he gets on the market.

 

[42N8Bounce]

I doubt they sign him to an extension now. His cap number will be lower next year when free agency starts giving us more room to work with. Then after using up the space, we could go over the cap resigning Leonard/matching whatever he gets on the market.

I agree. To put some numbers to it, Meyers currently makes $3,075,880. His qualifying offer (cap hold) next year is $4,210,880. If we use John Henson's signing as an indicator of the 'market value' for Meyers, he's expected to be in the 4 yr $44M range. $11M per year. If we sign Meyers to an extension now, that $11M would be our CAP hit, instead of the $4,210,880 qualifying offer. The Blazers 'lose out' on about $7M of potential cap space to attract free agents.

Does 'losing out' on that potential $7M of CAP space really mean anything? Looking at next year, the Blazers will have about $32M of CAP space available if they don't sign Meyers to an extension. That's assuming the CAP increases to about $89M. The Blazers will have about $25M of CAP space if they sign Meyers to an extension. The estimated max contracts for next summer for a 7-9 yr NBA vet, is 30% of the CAP, $25,033,157.

So either way, the Blazers would still have enough CAP space to offer a free agent a max contract next summer. But by signing Meyers to an extension now, they would be losing out on the option of signing a free agent in the $7M range. It certainly would be nice to have that 'extra' $7M in CAP space. But if they don't sign him to an extension and he ends up having a break-out year (good and bad), then the Blazers may be looking at matching an offer next summer that is significantly more than the estimated $11M. Risks both ways.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Actually, kinda looks like Coon #38 indicates that his cap hold, even with the QO offered, will be 250% of his 2015-16 salary. With salary of 3,075,880, that would give a cap hold of 7,689,700. Still significantly less than the 10-11m we're looking at if he's extended, but also significantly more than the QO.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

I mean, it's not like we will let him go; he's 7'1" with a legit range out to 24 feet and a 50/40/90 player that upped his PER 6 points last year. He's staying. When we re-sign him is just a matter of taste.

 

[42N8Bounce]

Actually, kinda looks like Coon #38 indicates that his cap hold, even with the QO offered, will be 250% of his 2015-16 salary. With salary of 3,075,880, that would give a cap hold of 7,689,700. Still significantly less than the 10-11m we're looking at if he's extended, but also significantly more than the QO.

Good catch. And it looks like the est ave salary for 2015-16 is $5.7M. So 250% of his previous salary ($3M) would be about $7.5M. That matches up with what is shown in the 'Cap hold' section of this page.

So if Meyers' cap hold is about $7.5M, and his estimated salary would be about $11M, then locking him up early uses up about $3.5M of CAP space that we could potentially use for a free agent. Not worth holding out. If we can get him for around $11M, then I say they do it now.

 

[ripcityboy]

I doubt they sign him to an extension now. His cap number will be lower next year when free agency starts giving us more room to work with. Then after using up the space, we could go over the cap resigning Leonard/matching whatever he gets on the market.

Whatever works. As long as we lock him up.

 

[handiman]

If we use John Henson's signing as an indicator of the 'market value' for Meyers, he's expected to be in the 4 yr $44M range. $11M per year.

I don't think that's a safe assumption with how the contracts are likely to sky rocket next year.

 

[tester551]

I don't think that's a safe assumption with how the contracts are likely to sky rocket next year.

Good catch. And it looks like the est ave salary for 2015-16 is $5.7M. So 250% of his previous salary ($3M) would be about $7.5M. That matches up with what is shown in the 'Cap hold' section of this page.

So if Meyers' cap hold is about $7.5M, and his estimated salary would be about $11M, then locking him up early uses up about $3.5M of CAP space that we could potentially use for a free agent. Not worth holding out. If we can get him for around $11M, then I say they do it now.

Both of these are on point. If we can get Meyers to sign for around $11M, Blazers are better off to resign him now. With as much money as will be on the market next year, it is VERY likely that Meyers will find someone willing to pay him much more than that.

 

[VanillaGorilla]

I mean, it's not like we will let him go; he's 7'1" with a legit range out to 24 feet and a 50/40/90 player that upped his PER 6 points last year. He's staying. When we re-sign him is just a matter of taste.

I doubt he will ever be a 50/40/90 player again if he plays more than he did last season. I think it's a bit disingenuous to call him that without mentioning how little he played.