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Miami Heat: 3 goals for Meyers Leonard in the 2019-20 season

By Tristan Tucker

PORTLAND, OR - MAY 20: Meyers Leonard #11 speaks with Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers during Game Four of the Western Conference Finals on May 20, 2019 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR - MAY 20: Meyers Leonard #11 speaks with Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers during Game Four of the Western Conference Finals on May 20, 2019 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JULY 07: Meyers Leonard signs autographs at NBA Summer League on July 07, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Cassy Athena/Getty Images) /

Earn a long-term contract

This is probably the simplest of the three goals for Leonard, but earning another NBA contract that is not just on the veteran’s minimum has to be of utmost importance for Leonard. Heat fans and the Leonard family are happy about Leonard’s being on the team, so this contract could be with the Heat, but it could also be with another team.

Leonard was a “victim” of the salary cap spike in the Summer of 2016, where many regrettable contracts were signed such as Nicolas Batum, Chandler Parsons and Evan Turner. Leonard re-signed with the Blazers that Summer on a four-year, $41 million deal and while he is getting paid good money, it often means that Leonard is put under the microscope more often than others whether it is deserved or not.

Next year’s free agency class is among the weakest in recent history, if not the absolute weakest. Especially because it precludes the heavy-hitting 2021 free agency class. If Leonard plays in the rotation and continues on the upward trajectory he showed last season, he could become one of the higher-valued frontcourt pieces in free agency once again.

A three-year, $15 million deal could be a realistic market for what he should be trying to attain, but he can always shoot for the stars seeing as many teams will have a lot of cap space to throw around next off-season.

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