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Portland Trail Blazers: Meyers Leonard is like a dream house

By Doug Patrick

Portland Trail Blazers Meyers Leonard (Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images)
Portland Trail Blazers Meyers Leonard (Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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NEW ORLEANS, LA – MARCH 27: Meyers Leonard #11 of the Portland Trail Blazers reacts before a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on March 27, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA – MARCH 27: Meyers Leonard #11 of the Portland Trail Blazers reacts before a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on March 27, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

Leonard as the pool: what he does well

It’s no secret that Leonard can shoot the ball. His .510 FG%, .420 3P%, and .938 FT% from 2014-15 are the waterfall/pool you build your entire fantasy around.

He has maintained similar numbers since then, becoming a career 37.3 percent three point shooter and going 82.4 percent from the charity stripe. These types of numbers make him a bonafide floor spacer. And at seven-foot-one, he can force power forwards and centers to follow him outside of the paint.

This type of threat is exactly what the Blazers need to open up space for Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum to drive towards the basket. His presence also provides opportunities for Evan Turner to better facilitate the offense when those guys sit. Leonard is a constant threat for drive-and-kicks when his man collapses on the ball-handler.

And when his three-point shooting gets going, Leonard appears more confident and aggressive on the floor. This was especially the case in his first preseason performance against the Toronto Raptors. When he only took, and missed, one shot in the first half, many were concerned over Leonard’s seeming confusion on the court.

Once he got going though, hitting his next four shots, he looked much more like he belonged.

In the fantasy, Leonard is the versatile big you can toss out there in lineups alongside either Zach Collins or Jusuf Nurkic, or he could be out there all on his own alongside other shooters.