Meyers Leonard was forced to leave the Portland Trail Blazers via trade. Could he leave the Miami Heat to return to the team that drafted him?
There is no bigger threat to stealing Meyers Leonard from the Miami Heat than the Portland Trail Blazers. It’s the only NBA home Meyers Leonard has ever known outside of South Beach.
Leonard saw success there both as an individual talent and as a team. In his seven seasons with club the Trail Blazers berthed the playoffs five times. Despite this, when the free agency period opens Portland is going to have to evaluate their entire personnel.
There are injury concerns for big man Jusuf Nurkic, and general concern for Hassan Whiteside’s ability to sustain his level of play from this season. He’s been a premiere rim protector for the Trail Blazers, but will hit free agency this offseason as well.
Whiteside’s averaging 16.3 points, 14.2 rebounds, and 3.1 blocks per game to the dismay of Heat fans. If Portland ends up letting him walk (they should) then there’s no question as to who’ll be the first big man Neil Olshey’s going to get on the phone.
Anytime there’s an offer to go back home, a player is going to hear it out. Meyers Leonard’s friendships and past with the Portland Trail Blazers make them the most dangerous threat to steal him away from Pat Riley and the Miami Heat in free agency.
The Miami Heat lucked out with their one-year flyer on Meyers Leonard but the entire league has taken notice. They’ll have competition when it comes to resigning him in free agency, with the three aforementioned teams the most likely threats to yanking him out of South Beach.