Meyers Leonard says ankle ‘much better.’ And a look at free agent decision that awaits him
The 2019-20 NBA season is suspended, but it hasn’t been canceled amid the coronavirus pandemic. So, Miami Heat center Meyers Leonard isn’t looking toward the offseason yet.
Instead, Leonard is working to make sure his injured ankle is as close to 100 percent as possible when/if the season is cleared to resume. Leonard, who started the first 49 games of the season, missed 16 games prior to the league shutdown because of a sprained left ankle.
“I’m feeling much, much better,” Leonard said during a Wednesday Instagram Live discussion with Heat television host Jason Jackson. “Obviously, I had an injury there right before the season was suspended. It was bad, and I think most people are aware of that. But I’m always incredibly, incredibly focused and I take a very professional approach. So, I guess if there’s a silver lining for Meyers Leonard, I’ve had some more time to rehab. The rehab has been very good.”
But at some point, whether the season is saved or not, Leonard will be faced with a decision. The 28-year-old 7-footer is set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason.
Leonard, who spent the first seven seasons of his NBA career with the Portland Trail Blazers before he was dealt to the Heat last summer as part of the four-team Jimmy Butler trade, has averaged 6.1 points while shooting 52 percent from the field and 42.9 percent on threes, 5.1 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 20.1 minutes this season.
With Leonard on the court, the Heat has been a better team. And a lot of it has to do with defense, as Miami has allowed 105.5 points per 100 possessions with Leonard on the court compared to a less efficient defensive rating of 109.6 when he’s not playing.
“I always wondered what it would be like to change teams, and I thought that was going to be hardest part,” Leonard said to Jackson. “I had never been anywhere else, I don’t know what other people’s culture is like. But this couldn’t have been a more perfect fit for me, personally. I think that Miami stands for character and loyalty and hard work — all the things that I feel I’m about.
“Being able to have a voice in the locker room where people listen and I know I can impact the game every night has been tremendous.”
Based on Leonard’s comments, the Heat seems like it will be a top free agent option for him. But can Miami afford to re-sign him?
The Heat should have the cap space this offseason to keep Leonard, but finding the room to sign him to a long-term contract will be challenging because the Heat wants to preserve max cap space for the summer of 2021 for a pursuit of Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo, who can become a free agent that summer, and others in what should be a loaded free agent class.
Would Leonard, who is on a salary of $11.3 million this season, take a one-year deal to remain in Miami for another run with the core of this Heat roster? The Heat’s other impending veteran free agents such as Jae Crowder and Goran Dragic will likely be faced with similar decisions this offseason.
“This league admittedly can be a bit of a business sometimes and you see every side of it, whether it’s somebody getting traded or a coach getting fired, whatever it may be,” Leonard said to Jackson. “But loyalty here [in Miami] quickly has been obvious to me. I’ve loved it here. ... I can tell [coach Erik Spoelstra] Spo appreciates what I’m about. That means a lot to me because I’m about the team. It’s not about Meyers Leonard ever, period. I think he appreciates that about me.”
