The Portland Trail Blazers have re-signed power forward Meyers Leonard to a four-year deal. Leonard’s deal is reportedly worth $41 million over the next four years.
The deal was first reported by Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical.
Meyers Leonard has agreed to a 4-year, $41M deal to stay with Portland, league sources tell @TheVertical.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 10, 2016
Portland Trail Blazers Re-sign Meyers Leonard To Four-Year Deal
Leonard averaged 8.4 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game last season for the Portland Trail Blazers. Leonard’s minutes went up from 15.4 to 21.9 per game, and his numbers followed suit. Leonard’s numbers in the three main stat categories all went up from the previous season. With Leonard’s points, rebounds and assists all rising, his role on the Blazers team also became more significant. Leonard played 61 games, 10 of which he started, a career high during his four seasons in Portland.
Leonard played an increased role on a Blazers team that won 44 games in a competitive Western Conference. The Blazers made it to the second round of the NBA playoffs, but were beaten in five games against the Golden State Warriors. Leonard didn’t play in any of the Blazers playoff games after his season ended prematurely due to injury. He missed the final 20 games of the NBA season with a shoulder injury which required surgery. The Blazers are expected to be a competitive team again this season, with 50 wins a realistic goal for the team.
Leonard isn’t the only player the Blazers have brought back, with guard Allen Crabbe re-signing with the team on a four-year, $75 million contract. The team also signed small forward Evan Turner to four-year, $70 million deal and center Festus Ezeli to a two-year, $15 million deal, with a team option for the second year.
The Blazers have put together a solid group a talented players, and have recovered very well after the team lost former Blazers star LaMarcus Aldridge to the San Antonio Spurs in free agency. Meyers Leonard isn’t a replacement for Aldridge, but he is an important piece for this Blazers team.
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