The Trail Blazers have signed Meyers Leonard, their back-up big man, to a four year, $41 million deal. Adrian Wojnarowski broke it.
Meyers Leonard has agreed to a 4-year, $41M deal to stay with Portland, league sources tell @TheVertical.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) July 10, 2016
So how does that effect the Nets chances on Allen Crabbe? It all depends on how much pain Paul Allen, the richest man in pro sports, want to handle.
Portland holds bird rights for Leonard, Crabbe, & Harkless. As long as they're willing to pay, they can exceed cap. https://t.co/HftZ3UKr6B
— NBA Cap Analyst (@NBACapAnalyst) July 10, 2016
As we've noted, that's a lot of pain. The Nets have loaded up Crabbe's offer sheet with a variety of disincentives for Portland and Allen to match, starting with the $75 million contract, but also payment advances, trade kickers, performance bonuses that are unlikely with the Nets, but likely with the Blazers (wins), etc. Not to mention how it would effect the balance going forward.
Would also have up to $64M tied up in Lillard ($26M) + Turner ($17M) + Crabbe ($19M - $21M), as CJ McCollum becomes RFA next summer.
— Albert Nahmad (@AlbertRandom1) July 10, 2016
That's a lot of money and not a lot of flexibility. As long time Blazer beat writer Jason Quick noted...
On one hand, Olshey hates to lose assets for nothing. But on the other hand, the offer sheet is $75 million. Seventy-five million!!!!!!
— Jason Quick (@jwquick) July 10, 2016
So, as we head into the evening, it would appear that the Nets had done about as much as they can to get Crabbe and by all accounts, he wants to join the Nets where he could start, something he could never do if the Blazers backcourt stays healthy. His agent, who is also Meyers Leonard agent, knows that as well. Do Paul Allen and Neil Olshey?