Meyers Leonard and Noah Vonleh Are Trail Blazers' Front Line of the Future
After the Portland Trail Blazers signed Damian Lillard to a five-year extension worth more than $125 million, per Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports, the team cemented his place as its point guard of the future.
The same could be said of the frontcourt with young talents Noah Vonleh and Meyers Leonard on board at power forward and center, respectively. Neither is as far along as Lillard, but both have the size and skill to emerge as a future tandem.
In theory, this duo should work, as both are proficient at shooting, rebounding and defending soundly. Leonard and Vonleh have good size at their respective positions and would be interchangeable rolling to the rim or popping outside for jumpers after screening on the perimeter.
But in terms of actual on-court production, it might be a different story.
Neither has played as a full-time starter or has a wealth of experience facing defensive pressure. Leonard had big games in the last month of the season, but it came as a third or even fourth option on offense. Vonleh is facing his second season as a pro without any true tests in his rookie year.
Notable improvement is needed before either can be counted on to contribute consistently, both individually and as a duo.
What's Next for Meyers Leonard?
Leonard exhibited a deadly outside jumper last season, converting 42 percent of his three-point attempts, while remaining a solid rebounder and interior presence. He isn't adept at blocking shots, but he did force opponents to shoot 6.1 percent less than their average, per NBA.com.
At 7'1", he offers a rare combination of shooting and size that can create matchup problems. Leonard can pull bigger defenders out of the lane with his jumper, thereby opening up the paint for drives or post-ups.
It's his biggest strength, but he must become just as masterful in other areas.
Leonard needs to add more to his offensive arsenal as a center. He did shoot 47.8 percent on hook shots (11-of-23), per NBA.com, though 171 of his 245 field-goal attempts came on jumpers. As a shooter, that ratio is perfectly fine.
But as a starting center, Leonard should have more go-to moves to ensure the offense doesn't become stagnant. If Vonleh can be a supreme post-up player, it'll make life floating around the perimeter much easier for the Illinois product.
Yet, Leonard still needs to be an option individually.
He doesn't have much else to improve on purely from a skill standpoint, as he can rebound, screen and defend. He does, however, need to raise his level of on-court awareness.
Leonard would often be caught out of place in offensive sets, moving to one spot before being directed where to go by head coach Terry Stotts. He can be seen getting caught out of position a few times in the video above.
He's expressed that he's ready for a bigger role, per the Oregonian's Sean Meagher, while keeping in mind there's a learning curve to it:
"I expect to be more of a leader (next season). I expect to play more minutes, but I certainly have to prove that I'm ready to do that. I know now how I can be effective. I certainly have to continue to grow and get better, work my tail off this summer and in training camp and preseason and even the regular season. There's no telling what's gonna happen next year but for me I just have to work as hard as I can.
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It's comforting to know Leonard is approaching 2016 with the mindset that he is confident in his abilities but also aware that he must prove it.
He already established himself as a capable player in the rotation toward the end of last season. As far as next year goes, he'll need to showcase more improvement to be a consistent starter.
If he can do that, Leonard has a chance to be the face of the frontcourt for a long time.
What's Next for Noah Vonleh?
Vonleh is entering his sophomore season after spending his rookie year with the Charlotte Hornets. He averaged only 10.4 minutes in 25 games, struggling with an injury early on and failing to break into the rotation.
When he did receive playing time, though, Vonleh demonstrated his shooting ability and strength as a rebounder. All of it was on display during the recent NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, where he averaged 17.3 points on 55.8 percent shooting and 8.5 rebounds in 29.0 minutes.
While they are impressive numbers, it's crucial to take them with a grain of salt, as the level of competition pales monumentally compared to what Vonleh will face each night in the NBA.
His play cannot be completely discounted, though, as he looked comfortable on the court. He didn't shy away from contact, taking it to the rim consistently and putting up shots without hesitation. He admitted as much in a report from SB Nation's David Naylor:
"I felt like I could get to the rim anytime. I would either draw a foul or kick it to somebody, and it would open up the floor and create action for somebody. I think having a post presence, once your post guy gets going, which, I got going a little bit, they started to try to have the help there waiting for me, and then it would be just a kick and an open shot or somebody’s driving to the rim for an easy basket.
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With that mindset, as well as a jumper, Vonleh will fit seamlessly into Stotts' offensive system that works at spreading the floor and finding the open man. He has the tools to be a low-post player, but he will need time to develop and fill out as a forward.
He'll be just 20 years of age by the time the season starts, and there will be a deep learning curve as he adapts. His rookie year featured just five games where he played more than 20 minutes, hence this upcoming season could be his first taste of playing consistent minutes.
"Could" is a key word here, as there is no guarantee Vonleh will be heavily featured in the rotation. With guys like Leonard, Mason Plumlee, Ed Davis and Chris Kaman ahead of him, it's possible Vonleh will need to ease into a niche.
Blazers guard C.J. McCollum went through such a transition this season, playing just 12.5 minutes per game prior to the All-Star break and 20.8 after the festivities. After being injured in training camp his rookie year, it took time for McCollum to adjust in his second go-around before he was a reliable, consistent player.
Vonleh is in the same situation. He'll get playing time and the chance to learn on the fly, given that Portland will be competing for a lottery spot over a championship, but his PT might be sporadic to start out. He'll have the luxury of playing alongside the aforementioned veterans, so he won't be expected to carry a huge load right away.
While Leonard has key areas to focus on, Vonleh shouldn't worry about refining his game just yet. Playing to his strengths and gaining confidence is key before looking at anything else. He'll be a project for the Blazers that will take time.
But if we're looking down the road, Vonleh needs to find a go-to offensive move in the post. He's already good at crashing the boards and finding space on the floor, but he heavily relies on the defense closing on his teammates so he can cut to the rim or pop out for a jumper.
He can be that low-post option alongside Leonard, giving this team a frontcourt that can attack inside and out. It will just be a little while before he can be relied on for as much.
Yet when a time comes that both Leonard and Vonleh are experienced and refined big men, the Blazers will have a versatile tandem that can shoot, rebound and defend like few others. Alongside Lillard and McCollum, Portland will have a youthful and exciting core to lead it into a new era.
Let's go, Rip City.
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