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I believe ultimately he'll exit. He is facing some pretty compelling circumstances. |
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The only thing I take away from the Tate comment is the idea that Leonard is at least open to coming back. A lot can change between now and decision time.
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Hard to say what's really going on with Leonard. I bet he will test the water and put his name in to see what feed back he gets either way. If Weber gets the boot I think Leonard is gone as well.
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Meyers Leonard is, at the very least, going to work out for teams, get some feedback, and find out what his draft position might be and what he needs to work on.
Because even if he stays for a third year at Illinois, does anyone think he'll still be here when he's a senior? No. So what does he have to lose by testing the waters? He is not going to make up his mind for a long time yet. |
he's just trying to save weber's job. he gone.
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As long as he doesn't sign with an agent, he can and probably will test the waters. He has until April 29th to declare for the draft and has until May 8th to withdraw his name. I'm not sure about the working out for individual teams.
Meyers has liked the college atmosphere a lot and has made many friends at UIUC. He has one particular well heeled and well connected individual that he communicates with a lot and no this person is not a"slimmy" agent after his future monies. Myers has always had a lot of people helping and supporting him and he feels that if goes NBA it could get awfully lonely for a 19 or 20 year old. One of the things to watch for is whether he stops going to class after the season is over. My guess is unless he's top a top 10-15 pick he comes back. Out of full disclosure, some of the above information came from my son who lived across the hall from him last year in Scott. |
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That said, the short run could be very hard to pass up if it meant $millions guaranteed now vs. more $millions guaranteed if he stayed another year. |
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In light of ML's personal situation, I'd be surprised if he stays for another year. There are too many unknowns with staying an additional year.
For all we know, he's telling the athletic department that he's staying because he wants to end the discussion and still has every intention of entering the draft. |
I suspect he'll enter the draft but won't hire an agent. If he gets word from GMs and scouts that he's a surefire lottery pick, he'd then stay in the draft.
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I'm not a GM (doh!), but I think ML will be a lottery pick this year. |
If he is valued in the 10 -14 range this year and he is the number 5 pick next year, he makes it up in the first contract.
I have no idea what he's going to do, but if he has confidence in his ability, financially, he is way better off staying a year. As has been discussed ad nauseum in this thread, it is not a pure financial decision for Myers or any other potential draftee, but the numbers would actually support him staying. |
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I think ML realizes that he needs one more year of development (imagine the jump he made this year x 2 with an additionl 10lbs. and refined post skills) along with another year of exposure/consistent success to get him locked into a lottery position. He'll have several other skilled big men to compete against in this coming draft...next year, not nearly as many. With Abrams more mature at the point, and with possibly a new coach in the mix who knows how to motivate and related to players in this day and age, I think you could see Meyers REALLY blossom next season. :chief: |
I think he has to stay at this point and prove he is a winner. I predicted the kid capable of double doubles last summer and everyone laughed. Teach him some better post skills and feature him more and he would have looked alot better this season.
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ML is a VERY bright and intelligent young man...he was experiencing pressures this year that he'd heard about, but never experienced before, and it showed. He couldn't maintain an inner motivation to play hard throughout games, he became easily frustrated with lack of touches in the post and with officiating, and he eventually broke down on the bench under the mounting pressure of not acheiving what he had hoped to. Scouts and GM's have seen it first hand, and I think there are enough more experienced big men options that it may move ML outside of the lottery this year unless one team really appreciates his potential and skillset and realizes it could take 2-3 years for it to fully blossom. |
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We don't really know if Deon Thomas would be a good Big 10 coach because he hasn't ever coached anywhere near this level. |
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Put yourself in the shoes of a 20 YO sophomore. Jump to the League for multiple millions or stay in school and risk injury. He's gonna improve regardless of where he's at. And he can always return and get his degree. I'd venture 90%+ students would take the dough. If he's a lottery pick, it's a no brainer (and that's w/o considering his personal situation). |
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Although it is reported that his mother and family face some real problems, surely his older brother (with his service in the military) can help out for one more year.... Also, I would think that his older brother would advise him to stay for one more year, given the REAL possibility of riches later.... jmho btw... why does my signature keep getting erased ? |
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DWill made some nice coin w/his first contract, no doubt. But where he really cleaned up was his 2nd contract (max contract, IIRC). |
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I see your case, but ML might well become a better pro by being trained by pro coaches and practicing/playing with/against much better players. Who's to say? Plus, doing hoops full time should advance his game more than if he was in school. From a mental growth/maturation standpoint, I agree that staying in school makes sense, primarily because there will be a lot less pressure. It certainly appears the proverbial light bulb has started coming on lately. He's playing harder and smarter and definitely has better control of his emotions. Let's not minimize ML's frustration from not getting enough touches ('cause I think it's massive & justified). Mental maturation is a process and, in ML's case, it's gonna take awhile ('cause he was an utter baby man as recently as the beginning of this season). |
I hold out no hope that ML will return next year. Once he declares and goes to the combine, I think he'll get a taste of the NBA and never look back.
However, if he does return, imagine him playing the back end of a full-court press or halfcourt trap engineered by SS. Even if teams broke through our pressure, we'd have ML defending the basket as our last line of defense. Nice thought. |
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Has anyone taken a look at the Centers in this years draft vs. potential centers in next year's draft?
Would that be a factor in deciding? |
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If he has to have the money now for personal reasons, that's fine, he should leave and take the guarantee. If not, as long as he is healthy, he will make more money long term by staying another year. |
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I doubt Leonard comes back; especially considering his family's situation. I will say that he is an amazing talent and the only thing holding him from being a star in the league is maturity and he is still raw.
I think he should come back to solidify himself for top 3 pick in next year's draft (he could be top 10 in my opinion this year, but he has questions about his maturity; he has a lot more potential then most in the draft). I am sure whomever is coaching him next year would take better advantage of him; especially if we had a Gregg Marshall type. |
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I hear all this talk of lack of maturity. Was ML immature/pouty last year? He was an underdeveloped player and he did not pout about playing behind Tisdale. Now he has improved and tasted belief. I don't see why he will not succeed. I disagree with those that are postulating that ML will have a better NBA career if he stays in college for one more year. If he stays for one more year his NBA career will be a year shorter and possibly with better career average stats. But he will develop faster and stands to make more money if he goes pro this year. I want him to become a dominant player in NBA so that I can watch him and feel proud of being an Illini. I would love for him to stay but I just don't see how that makes any sense for him. |
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Well, if Myers is right there at the top, why should he not go? |
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But if I were him, unless I was told I was a guaranteed top 10 pick in the upcoming draft, I'd stick around for at least another year. It just seems like he could use an overwhelmingly positive college season under his belt before going to the NBA. But, we'll see what happens. I don't think he's a guaranteed top 10 pick this year. I think he should stick around and develop another year. But, if we get a new coach he doesn't care for or his need to help his mom becomes super urgent, I could easily see him going to the draft without looking back. |
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In my estimation there is maybe a difference of a few million dollars in being drafted say 10-15 which is likely where he would go this year and 5-10 next year, but that is easily made up with the extra year in the NBA. |
It is logical that Meyers leaves but I think he's scared to an extent. He understands $$ like any of us, but he's a small town kid and he seems to be humble enough to recognize that he needs to gain maturity, mental toughness and develop a much better low-post game if he wants to be a successful NBA center. $$ is important but does anyone know how often he goes home to see his mom? What if his brother sticks around Robinson this year? If Meyers goes down to New Orleans (current projection at 13) he won't see either of them much at all going forward. I wouldn't be surprised either way, but I believe that regardless who the coach is next year, there is a decent chance that he comes back. Hopefully DJ & Brandon in particular tighten up their interior passing skills...in Brandon's case at least these skills will be critical at the next level.
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+1
Stay and develop, the new coach WILL run the offense through him |
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I have no problem with Leonard going out and setting screens as long as he's ALWAYS rolling to the basket hard looking for the pass.
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Maybe a new coach can draw up better plays for Meyers (like alley oop stuff that Cal does with Davis every game), but unless our passing dramatically improves, Meyers will get the ball about as much as he did this year. Oh and another thing that needs to improve is our perimeter shooting. Teams would sag in the lane against us because we couldn't hit from the outside, making it nearly impossible to feed Leonard. If a new coach can make the team better shooters, passers, ballhanders, and give them a higher bball IQ, I think you're right and Meyers will touch the ball more. That's just an awful lot to ask. |
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There are numerous arguments why the post was not fed better. 1) We did not have the players that had the skills to feed the low post. That is correctable, a little hard-nosed teaching fundamentals in the off-season. Recruit better. 2) The flow of offense this season was predictable and stagnant. The offense would sputter when the perimeter passing was not available, forcing the defense to focus on the entry pass to Meyer's, predictable. 3) Meyer's has not developed the finesse to position himself down low in the paint to win the low post. That takes game time, film study, etc., which comes by staying in school.
Those are a few, but it all goes back to the system. If a gear is out of whack, the whole mechanism is off. When we have insufficient players not properly running the system, the results are clear. Is it the system or the players that are the problem? To me, it hurt watching the Illini this season, it looked like they were thinking too hard on where they should be, what they should be doing, what should they be doing next, forcing the pass just because they have too to keep the motion working. I believe with a new offense, the players might flourish, but that takes a coach who can gather everything in the pantry and make a delicious meal out of it. Just a quick couple questions: What has Bruce changed about his motion offense in his 9 years of coaching? Do you think the B1G coaches have not taken notice to his motion and the predictability of the passes and positioning? |
He has everything you need from a physical standpoint.
His skills are good and getting better. Another year at the college level would benefit him. His maturity, toughness, etc. would benefit significantly from another year. That said, the bottom line to me is a business decision. Do you stay another year to ensure you're going to stick in the NBA, or do you take the money now, with a greater risk that they run you through the grinder, and you can't make the leap to the pro pressures and lifestyle? As an outside observer, I think it's a close call --he's improved so much, it looks like he can do it, but the mental aspect looks like he could use another year. OTOH, if he doesn't go pro this year, and gets distracted by a coaching change, he could actually lose some of his luster. If he puts his name in, and of course he should, he'll be in the best position to make the decision. My guess is he goes, but it's a big decision --I could see him staying one more. |
Regarding feeding the post, I agree our guards did not look to Meyers as much as they looked to themselves. This is a personnel issue that I think will improve a lot with Abrams. Abrams knows who the best weapon on the floor is, and I don't think BP3 and DJ play like they understand that.
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I think it will be hard for him to not take the dangling carrot in front of him. I think there's more than just the money... its the D-League and professional trainers that are paid to make you better and only think of you and your skill improvement. College is a distraction.
But, I do think he'd make more money by coming back next year. Bigger body, better on the block skills, footwork and positioning. |
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A tough decision for a young man who has a lot riding on him in a program that is in shambles right now. I feel that he should stay for one more year to develop his game as long as we get a coach who has a good offensive system. I feel that Bruce Weber and the coaching staff has not utilized him well, and that Mr. Leonard would have been better off in a system with more of a run and gun mentality (like most of our players). As a fan of the Illini, I hope he stays and helps our team succeed next year, because I feel that he can be something special if used correctly. However, I can see him going to the NBA, and I do not blame him for taking the money because of his situation and the possibility of him getting hurt, etc. That being said, I hear that the agent of Tiger Woods (a U of I alum) is looking to possibly representing Mr. Leonard as his agent.
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The NBA money might be too much for Leonard to pass up, but it isn't as if we don't have a chance of winning games next year. |
OK, maybe I was on the dramatic side...its just been a tough year, and there have been times its been hard on the coaches and the players....my bad
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And the fans' wives and dogs. |
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Don't forget fan's Children and Cats! LOL |
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I think the only question ML has to answer is what will prolong my NBA career. If the answer is staying for one more year and try to develop into an NBA starter in college or does he go pro ride the bench and hope to develop by playing the best?
If he thinks he would be better served staying then we will be happy people. If he would develop just as quickly and get paid, then it should be a forgone conclusion. With a new coach coming in... I see it as very unlikely that he stays. :( |
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He needs to mature a bit but whether he stays or goes he'll be one to follow. Calling him the white "Dwight Howard" won't end up doing him justice. Imagine him with a developed dribble/drive game & the pivot/ post game of Hakeem the Dream along with all other physical attributes. A rare one comes down the pike. Stay Meyers, stay!
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Meyers reminds me of the 7 footer from Bradley a few years ago. I'm afraid if Meyers goes out now he will be taking a similar career path. But then look at Chris Bosh. What do I know - I thot Bosh was too skinny and needed another college year too.
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Right now, ML looks to be a late lottery pick, but that doesn't factor in the foreign players yet, right? Hopefully we can get a coach in place before he has to decide. I wonder which way Weber will be advising him now?
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So with Fab Melo having eligibility issues, does he declare for the draft this year? Woul he be taken before ML? Maybe his departure helps keep ML around?
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My research (clicking the first couple links from a google search) shows Melo to be ranked lower than ML by everyone, so I doubt whatever Melo does will change ML's decision.
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Guess we will just have to see if the "girl" factor takes over. :)
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Did anyone catch the season finale of the Journey on BTN? Bailey, Meyer's brother, doesn't think he is truly ready for the NBA. He mentioned that their mom has lived with her pain for this long that one more year isn't that big of a deal. Here is to Meyer's listening to big bro!
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Elle Biefeldt is her last name...so she might have some pull around the U of I...at least her name does haha.
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I blame facebook...stupid relationship status!
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Once the NBA feedback comes back and he's projected into the mid or late lottery.
He's gone. |
Color me a big Bailey Leonard fan after hearing this.
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Forgive my ignorance, I knew some of Meyer's background, but does his mother need an operation or medication that Meyer's would pay for with his NBA money to relieve the pain? I knew the family could use the money, I just didn't know that his mother's pain management was part of the decision. If it is, I would think it would make him more likely to go to the NBA. |
sMy sense is that the difference for Meyers leaving this year and staying another year may be one of his immediate NBA readiness. I've little doubt if he goes now he'll get a nice rookie contract and he'll make a roster, but he might not play much. If he is able to afford to wait another year, he might make a bigger impact in the league earlier. Since he grew so fast so late he's had to fast-track his development as a post player, and it certainly didn't help that he played against far smaller kids during his time at Robinson.
I may be most amazed by his athleticism and coordination given the fact that he had the crazy growth spurts in high school. His athleticism is freakish for anyone his size, but when you consider how he grew, it's even more remarkable and unsusual. I think there's little doubt another year in college would help his game and accelerate his development. His family's needs and how that impacts him will be significant factors in the decision. |
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