Speaking of no talent U.S. born white centers

lowering my expectations? that a #11 pick center might average 10/9 for his career?

i would think that would actually be close to best case scenario

take away the #1 no brainer picks on that list and you have a crapton of meh/dogshit

 

There are "average NBA players," and then there are "average real NBA centers." Lots of the former, but far fewer of the latter.

A lot of those "solid" guys got paid pretty well. The market clearly values a pretty mediocre 7 footer over a 6'7 guy who puts up above average stats. It's about rarity and impact on winning.

Obviously, we'd all love Leonard to be a franchise center. But even a mediocre starting center is a pretty respectable pick for where we got him. (And I think he's got a good chance to be more than that.)

 

Ya, ok, I have been swayed. I would be pretty delighted with 10/9. Apparently I'd be delighted with 10/7/2blks or 8/8/2

 

Only five centers averaging 8/8/2 this season (13 if you count F-C's and C-F's).

 

That's what I just said. Apparently I'd be delighted

 

Reality is so much different from expectations sometimes! I was shocked at how few legitimate centers there are, and how few of them are doing anything at all. Leonard will be good* in his career.

*for a center.

 

Meyers Leonard is a big man that can shoot the basketball and it wont surprise me if we see him shooting 3 pointers next season.

 

interesting

http://www.basketball-reference.com...tat=&c5comp=gt&c6mult=1.0&c6stat=&order_by=ws

 

Forgot about brad miller. He is white and us born right?

 

yup, he sure is

 

I think Meyers Leonard is more like a Reaf LeFrentz type.

 

Where would Meyers Leonard be in this year's draft if he had played one more year of college ball? He put up 13.6 ppg, 8.2 rpg, and 1.9 bpg his sophomore year at Illinois. By comparison, Cody Zeller is putting up 16.4 ppg, 8.2 rpg, & 1.4 bpg this year. NBADraft.net has Zeller as the projected number 2 pick. I think Meyers would probably be a top-5 pick in this year's draft, which means the Blazers got him for good value. His game intrigues me a lot and I'd hate to see him traded before we get a better idea of what his ceiling is.

 

It's ok when Leonard starts shooting three pointers you will lean slightly the other way.:MARIS61:

 

You can't teach big: Meyers is big. You can't teach athletic: Meyers is VERY athletic. You can't teach touch: Meyers has an amazingly soft touch around the hoop for a guy his size. You can teach strength and conditioning, but from what I've read, Meyers could probably teach the Blazers training staff a thing or two in those departments.

I think as long as progressive expectations for this kid stay reasonable, his upside could be way up there. Keep dangling attainable goals in front of him, and he'll continue to get better and better. Set the bar too high, and you run the risk of killing his confidence and his will to work to improve.

 

Boom - hit the nail on the head! Agreed on all points.

 

I really gotta hand it to Stotts and the front office: they're investing in Leonard without throwing him to the wolves. They're playing a center they have on a one-year contract less than 30 minutes a game, and playing Leonard 16-18 minutes a game, which is way more than I expected for some reason. They pull Leonard when he fucks up totally, but Stotts talks with Leonard for entire plays after pulling him, telling him what he wants Leonard to be doing out there. Every game Leonard plays is one where he shows us something new.

 

Boom - hit the nail on the head! Agreed on all points.

I think Leonard is going to slowly improve (as has been mentioned here), but we're going to be able to see it. Then, I could see him being one of those guys who just puts it all together one day, finds his confidence, and just runs with it.

 

leonard isnt fouling TOO much really, 4.8 per36, about the same as hibbert or javale

but he could cut down for sure

 

Most of it is because he doesn't back down or flop (or get into good position). I generally am fine with the fouls he gets because it's usually from tangling with some guy trying to school the rookie. Leonard has no fear.