[L.ShapParticipant]

 Let me know what you guys think. I take all criticism with open arms. 

Click here to read the article

[WizardofOzParticipant]

 I think you’re underrating his skill a little. He’s more skilled than most big men his age.

[B-ball fanParticipant]

 Nice article.  I just have one criticism that I see, as I’ll admit my knowledge of Leonard as a prospect is limited:  You seem to have your ratings skewed upward a little bit.  Sure, that would be fine if you are consistent with them for all players, but giving him a 9 for upside and athleticism gives you little room to go higher, considering you considered 10 to be NBA ROY level.

     Leonard does have very good upside considering the scarcity of 7 footers with his physical gifts, but I would say their are other players who probably have greater room for potential improvement.  Same thing with his weaknesses, which I think you judged a little too kindly.

Overall, I liked the article though.  Dallas does seem to be a good landing spot for any young center entering the league and they are one of the more probable landing spots for Leonard, in my opinion. 

[L.ShapParticipant]

Thanks guys! 

[dede21]

 On the comparison thing you have Chris Mihm ad the worst case and Anderson as most likely, I think Chris Mihm at least when healthy was better than Anderson, Anderson had no post game and MIhm was a better defender because he had more suze.

[HitsterParticipant]

Myers is in the same mix as Perry Jones Sullinger, Henson, Moultrie, Zeller going from late top 10 down to about 20th place. A lot of teams from Detroit downwards will have a long hard look at these guys and I could find several good fits for Myers Leonard. I like the Dallas suggestion, he’d have time there, a load of veterans to help guide him and a likely top PG to feed him.

Philly could be a fit but if they retain Hawes, the two maybe a bit similar, Houston also maybe needs a young big if Camby moves on and Coach McHale could help him along. I’d rule out Phoenix as we already have a number of bigs in rotation but I’ll throw in Portland with the 11th pick and Boston if they decided to trade up or Myers Leonard fell a bit in the draft.

[dede21]

 Leonard does have a lot of upside, you cannot name one player who is bigger and more athletic than him that is not a hall of famer.

[L.ShapParticipant]

@dede21 I don’t know, I’d rather have Birdman. His activity level is awesome. 

[AKOOParticipant]

Dude has bust written all over him

[omphalosParticipant]

I think the Tyson Chandler comparison is dead on, I managed to watch him play a few times this season, and he’s definitely a defensive anchor more than anything else. He has a better handle than Chandler, but doesn’t finish as strong at the basket. He also reminds me somewhat of a more athletic Joakim Noah, he has that insane length, but also great fluidity for his size.

In regard to your profile, you’re on point with the athleticism, but I’d give him at least a 6 for skill, because as has been pointed out, he’s got a better skillset than a lot of players his age, and just needs to develop some consistency (a dimension which is reflected in the NBA readiness measure). Upside is a bit high at 9, if Chandler is his best case scenario, because although Chandler brings a lot to the table, he wouldn’t be considered a 9.

Leonard strikes me as a guy who will find success as a role player, and leader in the locker room, he doesn’t have the selfish mentality of an Al Jefferson which would allow him to thrive as a go-to guy in the post. Leonard is a hard-worker who puts the team first, and while he is ridiculously athletic, that won’t translate into big numbers.

It all comes down to where he lands, because in the right team he’ll be very valuable. As far as good fits are concerned, I don’t think Dallas would give him many opportunities to succeed. The Mavericks already have Haywood, Wright, Yi and Mahinmi who are all long, slender PF/Cs who are offensively challenged, but have the benefit of a few years in the NBA. He’d be better off ending up somewhere with a real need at the PF/C spot, like Boston, Portland, Minnesota or Atlanta.

Boston; Stiemsma has been a nice surprise, but if KG leaves in free agency they Celtics are going to have a huge hole in the middle, and Leonard would look great finish oop passes from Rondo in transition. If KG stays, Leonard would learn a thing or two about anchoring a defense from one of the best to ever do it, and could form the next generation Celtics alongside Bradley, Rondo and (possibly) Jeff Green.

Portland; With Nate gone, Portland are going to become more a running team, and Leonard wouldn’t have a hard time beating out the incumbent stiff Hasheem Thabeet as frontcourt partner for Aldridge. The added benefit is that Aldridge has great scoring abilities, so Leonard could play Chandler to Aldridge’s Dirk and be the defensive anchor.

Minnesota; Darko has fallen out of favour with Adelman, and Rick never seemed to have much confidence in Anthony Randolph, so the window is open for an athletic shot-blocker off the bench to spell Pekovic at C and give Adelman a bit more flexibility in the makeup of his team. Also, playing with a playmaker of Rubio’s calibre would allow him to get easy buckets from pick and rolls and lob passes.

Atlanta; bringing in Leonard would allow Horford to move to his natural PF and Smith to become a mismatch at the SF spot, or if Smith really wants out of Atlanta, Leonard provides nice insurance against his departure at the PF/C spot.

[WTF I’m BANNED]

 i dont like the chandler comparison at all.

…

…he might have bust written all over him but he also has awesome center written all over him

 

[L.ShapParticipant]

 @omphalos I can see where you are coming from with that about fit. I really liked Dallas because it seemed like they were lacking that type of defensive force in the middle during that OKC playoff series. The ones you mentioned, however, I would say are equally good fits, especially the Celtics. 

[Author]

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