The Portland Trail Blazers are two weeks away from the official beginning of an offseason worth dreading. Much of their roster will be free to sign wherever they please, including two of their stars, LaMarcus Aldridge and Wesley Matthews. There is a great deal up in the air, and, while that is the case, it is also important to focus on the players Portland has under control.
Among the few is center Meyers Leonard, who improved tremendously this past season and is undoubtedly in line for a larger role next season. How large could dictate how Portland fares.
If Aldridge leaves, Leonard would surely see more playing time, even if Portland were to acquire a power forward either through free-agency or trade. Even if Aldridge stays, Leonard needs to be out there with more regularity. Especially during the last third of the season, his presence on the floor was as vital as anyone’s. It wasn’t necessarily his statistical input, but it was the challenge his versatility posed for defenses. The threat to score inside and from beyond the arc stretched out the opposition, forcing one of their frontline players to guard the three-point line and thereby opening up the lane. Order was often restored due to his activity, not to mention his historic efficiency.
During the regular season, Leonard’s numbers appear modest on the outside; an average of five points and four rebounds doesn’t exactly scream valuable contributor. To fully understand how important he is, it is necessary to look at his percentages. Leonard was a member of the prestigious 50-40-90 club: he shot 51 percent from the field, 42 percent from the three-point line, and 93 percent from the free-throw line. Those numbers, albeit not coming in starter’s minutes, are remarkable. They are a testament to his accuracy, but also to his basketball IQ. He takes shots within his comfort zone, and that zone stretches from two feet to 25 feet from the basket.
Those averages were even better in the playoffs. He upped his scoring average to eight points per game, shooting 66 percent from the field (14-21), and a mind-boggling 77 percent (10-13) from three-point range. In addition, he was a force on the glass, grabbing 33 rebounds. Despite being a small sample size, five games, his numbers shouldn’t be seen as a fluke hot streak. Rather, they represent how good he has become. Just think what he could do with more playing time.
How much more doesn’t just depend on Aldridge’s free-agency; that of center Robin Lopez plays a role, too. Lopez is an unrestricted free-agent as of July 1st. The likable, frizzy-haired center brought a hard-working mentality to the center position last year for the Blazers; his tenacity, length and dependability to excel in all areas made him an important piece to the puzzle. What Leonard was to the bench unit, Lopez was to the starting five. Even though that was the case, is he worth bringing back?
Based solely on how well his style of play works in Portland’s system, the answer is a definitive yes. And yet, whether he is re-signed or not depends on how the Blazers intend to answer the following question: Is Leonard ready to be the starting center? If they believe so, Lopez’s talent deserves more than a backup role, and there are teams out there that would gladly sign him to start.
No matter what happens with Aldridge and Lopez, Leonard’s versatility would be better suited alongside a power forward rather than playing the position himself. Despite his 7’1″ frame and perimeter-oriented game, he showed the ability to roam the outside while still managing to be an inside presence. He knows how to box out and rebound, and has the athleticism to soar in and make an impact in the paint. Since many power forwards have a similar inside-outside game to Aldridge, Leonard’s activity and ability to spread the floor alongside whomever completes the frontline would give defenses fits.
Portland’s offseason is a collection of ifs, many questions that could both alter the franchise’s direction and whom they have to rely on. Amidst the fog engulfing the Blazers, one thing is clear: Leonard proved he can be relied upon. And he he is ready for whatever–which should be more minutes for more threes, more efficiency and more intensity from the center primed for the next step.
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