FanPost

Where is Meyers Leonard at 2 years from now?



I hate to pile on the kid, but after his embarrassing, clueless ejection last night, I feel it needs more discussion. Is it possible to prod a lightening rod of criticism? 2 years in, and he looks as lost as ever. Forget the athleticism and shooting touch. He has virtually no instincts to play Center in the NBA. Last summer I was at Summer League, and had a chance to talk with ex-Blazer big man, Steve Johnson. He said Meyers lacked a natural feel for the game, and that is something you either have or don't. It can't be coached. Without that foundational building block, he said Meyers would never evolve into anything more than an end-of-the-bench journeyman. That was best case scenario.

I couldn't agree more. If he can't figure out how to play defense, his offense will never get him regular minutes. At his size, he's expected to protect the rim and rebound, first and foremost. If he can't do that, his jump shot will just rot away on the bench. The fact is that there is zero signs of learning or improvement is disheartening for a lottery pick. T-Rob is the perfect example of a project player who is showing small steps in improving. He's playing much more under control, hitting the boards, active and communicative on defense, and limiting turnovers. He's beginning to look like a regular rotation player.

So while Meyers back story is a touching one, I do wish him the best. As a Blazer fan, my patience on seeing growth has almost run out. When he was drafted, I could accept a 4-5 year project to build toward becoming a quality starting center. But his ROI after 2 seasons has produced nothing. No glimpse of hope that the light bulb may be flickering, let alone be turning on.

What say you Rip City? Where is Meyers in 2 more seasons?