Portland Trail Blazers Do Not Extend Moe Harkless, Meyers Leonard Before Deadline

The 9:00 PM PST deadline for extending players went by without any action from the Portland Trail Blazers front office. The team has apparently been unable to come to terms for contract extensions to forward Maurice Harkless and center Meyers Leonard. Both players will likely become restricted free agents next summer, if the Blazers make the typical Qualifying Offer.

Jason Quick of Comcast SportsNet Northwest reported that Leonard and the team will not reach terms before the deadline:

"I'm betting on myself,'' Leonard said after passing on the Blazers' offer.

Leonard confirmed his contract status to the Blazers' Casey Holdahl shortly after:

. @MeyersLeonard11 reiterated he "loves" Portland and wants to continue to grow with the team despite not coming to an extension agreement

— Casey Holdahl (@CHold) November 3, 2015

"I love this team, I love this city, so hopefully after the end of the year we'll get something done." — @MeyersLeonard11

— Casey Holdahl (@CHold) November 3, 2015

Holdahl also noted that Harkless was unlikely to be extended based on postgame conversation.

Between talking to the players and there only being 30 minutes left until the deadline, guessing Leonard and Harkless go unextended

— Casey Holdahl (@CHold) November 3, 2015

Harkless was acquired on July 14th from the Orlando Magic in exchange for a second-round pick in 2020.  He averaged 6.8 points and 3.5 rebounds over three seasons with the Magic, and has averaged 8 points and 4.3 rebounds for Portland this season.

Leonard was drafted by Portland with the 11th overall pick in the 2012 draft out of the University of Illinois.  He has averaged 4.8 points and 3.9 rebounds over his career with the Blazers.  A regular starter for the first time in his career this year, he has averaged 7 points and 4 rebounds while dealing with numbness in the fingers on his shooting hand.