Meyers Leonard, as rumor has it, rejected a four-year, $60 million extension offer before the season.
If that number is accurate, he came out a little behind -- but still well, all things considered.
Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports:Seven-footer Meyers Leonard has signed a four-year, $41 million contract extension with the Portland Trail Blazers, league sources told The Vertical.
Leonard had a rough season. He lost his starting job after a shoulder injury. Another shoulder injury could keep him out to begin next season. Between, his shooting regressed in all areas from 2014-15.
This is good value for the Trail Blazers, because Leonard is likely to experience better fortune going forward. He has a unique skill set -- size to play center and a shooting stroke that extends beyond the arc.
Leonard is a little slow-footed to play power forward, and his 3-pointers are less of a relative weapon there. But he might have to play the position with Portland signing Festus Ezeli to join Mason Plumlee.
The somewhat awkward fit with the Trail Blazers and his restricted status threatened to reduce Leonard’s salary even further from Portland’s preseason offer. So, at this point, Leonard should be pretty happy with this deal.
So should the Trail Blazers, who used their advantageous position to get a talented 24-year-old locked up for the next four years.