According to a league source, free-agent center Meyers Leonard is signing a 10-day contract with the Milwaukee Bucks. Here’s what you need to know:
- Leonard last played in January 2021, at which point he had season-ending shoulder and ankle surgeries. He has been on hiatus for almost two years and was recently fully released to work for NBA teams.
- Leonard was suspended for a week and fined $50,000 in March 2021 after using an anti-Semitic slur on a livestream. He later apologized and in recent years spent time with Jewish leaders and immersed himself in the Jewish community, which was well known to the League.
- The Athletic reported last month that Leonard is coaching for the Los Angeles Lakers.
backstory
At 7-foot-1, Leonard has shot 42.9 percent from 3-point range over his past four seasons and averaged 5.6 points and 3.9 rebounds per game over seven seasons. In 28 career playoff games with Portland and Miami, Leonard averaged 5.3 points, 3.1 rebounds and a 48.1 percent clip of three.
Milwaukee went into the All-Star break 41-17 second in the East.
Why Leonardo?
As the Bucks prepare to get back on the ground after the All-Star hiatus, they could use a little Big Man depth in their rotation if two key contributors recover. In their final game before the All-Star break, Giannis Antetokounmpo injured his right wrist at the basket post trying to block a Coby White rim attempt.
Backup center Bobby Portis missed the final 11 games before the break after suffering a right MCL sprain on Jan. 23 in the Bucks’ 150-130 win over the Pistons Jan. 23. With both Antetokounmpo and Portis sidelined, the Bucks could use a big to help Brook Lopez in coach Mike Budenholzer’s rotation.
Leonard, a 7-foot, 260-pound center, has not played an NBA game since Jan. 9, 2021, when he underwent season-ending shoulder and ankle surgery.
He has now been sidelined for two years, but he was recently fully released to resume coaching for NBA teams. In nine NBA seasons, Leonard averaged 5.6 points and 3.9 rebounds in 16 minutes per game and shot 39 percent from 3, but never played a big part with the Blazers or Heat. — take it
Where does the Bucks roster stand?
When the Bucks finalized their trade deadline deal to acquire Jae Crowder, they sent three players along with five second-round draft picks. That opened up two roster spots and the Bucks must fill at least one of those roster spots before playing the Miami Heat on Friday.
Signing Leonard to a ten-day deal will give the Bucks added depth while they wait for Antetokounmpo and Portis to get back on the ground, but also allow them to move in a different direction if they ultimately decide that they are needed more at the point guard the wing goes forward.
Even with Leonard’s signing, they still have one more squad spot open if they want to sign a player from the buyout market for the rest of the season. — take it
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(Photo: Jasen Vinlove / USA Today)