Miami Heat: 3 biggest threats to steal Meyers Leonard in free agency
After just one year with the Miami Heat, Meyers Leonard has proven a great fit. They’ll look to resign him in free agency, but will have competition.
It’s very rare for an NBA trade to come out win-win on both sides. Yet that’s what has become of the Miami Heat’s offseason deal with the Portland Trail Blazers for Meyers Leonard.
In a rare four-team deal that only cost them Hassan Whiteside, the Heat earned a versatile and big man and their starting center for the 2019-2020 campaign.
The only problem? He’ll be an unrestricted free agent this summer. With five other Miami personnel also headed for the open market in one away or another, Pat Riley is going to have some tough decisions to make come the offseason.
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In Leonard they’ve found a glue-like fit in the frontcourt next to Bam Adebayo. His ability to stretch the floor has played a large part in the Heat’s success from 3-point land this season. On the year Leonard is averaging 6.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, and one deep shot per game.
He’s one of just nine power forwards or centers to connect on a 3-pointer nightly per Basketball Reference. Other names on that list include Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid, and Al Horford.
Leonard has all the skills of today’s traditional centers without all the page-popping numbers and stat lines. But for Miami, it could all come to an end after this season.
A lot of teams will be in the market for a starting caliber center that won’t break the bank due to the potential drop in cap. That being said, a look at three teams that pose a threat to the Miami Heat and their pursuit of Meyers Leonard in free agency.