Has Meyers Leonard Earned A Raise?

Meyers Leonard is heading to restricted free agency, will the Trail Blazers retain him?

Meyers Leonard is over seven feet tall, under twenty five, and headed to restricted free agency. Along with his height and age, he possesses the ability to shoot the ball from long range. He has spent his entire career with the Trail Blazers, joining the team in the 2012 NBA Draft (11th overall). In his time with Portland he has become one of the most polarizing figures amongst the fanbase. It is tough to put a finger on the exact reason for it. The factors range from Damian Lillard‘s instant success being coupled with Leonard’s steep learning curve (entering the NBA with only one year of college under his belt), to his demeanor on the court. Putting these factors aside is tough, but it is something that Neil Olshey (Trail Blazers GM) must attempt to do when negotiating this summer. The biggest question is, has he earned a big extension?

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The start of the season certainly didn’t work out in Leonard’s favor, as a shoulder injury cost him time out of the lineup. Once he returned from injury, his spot in the starting rotation was taken by Noah Vonleh. It wasn’t just the injury that hampered his opportunities though. Leonard endured a horrific shooting stretch to start the season, going a horrendous 3-21 from beyond the arc over six games (the first six of the season).

Coming off the bench turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as the month of December turned into Leonard’s most product of the season. He reached double digit points eight times, including one twenty point outing. This momentum carried over into the new year, which also brought about a solid raise in his 3P%. His outside shooting jumped from .280 in November to .414 in January. February saw another increase in his 3P% (.452), but it also saw a massive drop off in his production. His minutes dropped from 21.5 MPG in January to 16.2 in February.

Dec 21, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward Meyers Leonard (11) shoots the ball against the Atlanta Hawks in the second quarter at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

His drop in production coincided with the rise of Maurice Harkless, as Terry Stotts inserted him into the starting lineup instead of Leonard during Vonleh’s missed time (ankle injury). Leonard’s shooting numbers have remained intact, despite missing the opportunity to jump back into the starting lineup. He has grown into his new role of playing effectively next to fellow reserve big man Ed Davis. Leonard’s defense is still a work in progress, but Davis’ work in the paint on offense has allowed for Leonard to stick to the perimeter. This style of play has done wonders for his offensive effectiveness.

Has Leonard’s steady play since his awful start warranted a contract extension? He will likely be retained if the price is right, but it is tough to gauge the market for the young center. The market is flush with cash and the league is moving towards post players who can stretch the floor. Several teams will be lining up to sign Ryan Anderson (fellow stretch big man), which will leave Leonard as the consolation prize for the teams that miss out. Both of these factors should result in a competitive market for the former Illinois player.

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Leonard will be expensive, but he still fits the plan for the Trail Blazers. This season has been rooted in strong on/off court chemistry, and Leonard is one of the longest tenured Portland players. Vonleh is still a few years away from being a serious option (don’t be fooled by his “starter” status), so a hole remains in the rotation. The most important thing to remember is the points made at the opening of this article. He is over seven feet tall, under twenty five years old, and he can shoot from deep. As polarizing as he might be, his future is still bright. The Trail Blazers owe it to themselves and the fans to ensure that his future is in Portland. Even with an extension, Olshey will have money to work with this summer. Plus, Rip City will avoid another Jermaine O’Neal-esque situation.