The Portland Trail Blazers are in the middle of a fight for one of the final spots in the Western Conference playoffs. Portland has not helped itself by losing four of its last six games but the team is currently in the sixth spot.
Many people expected this Blazers team to be one of the worst in the league so they have already exceeded their expectations, but they still want to get into the playoffs. They are one and a half games ahead of the Utah Jazz who are in ninth place out West. Holding on to their position was never going to be easy, but it will be made even harder by the fact that Meyers Leonard has been ruled out for the rest of the season.
Leonard separated his shoulder, for the second time this season, in practice last week. At first the Blazers were unsure when he would be able to return, but they were hopeful it would be this season because he only missed two weeks after the first occurrence this year. Leonard, though, recently sought out a second opinion on the shoulder and decided to undergo surgery to repair it. The surgery will take place on April 8 and will end his season.
Leonard had been coming off the bench for the Blazers but he was still a big piece for them now, and, they hoped, in the future. In 61 games this season the 24-year-old center averaged 8.4 points and 5.1 rebounds in less than 22 minutes per game. The Blazers had high hopes that this would be a breakout season for Leonard, but an early shoulder injury derailed that and moved him to a full-time bench role.
It is very possible that this could be the end of Leonard's Blazers career as he is set to become a restricted free agent. Of course the Blazers will be the favorites to keep him because they can match any offer he receives, but they have to be concerned about this chronic shoulder issue. Leonard is an interesting restricted free agent case because he is a 7-foot-1 player that can stretch the floor, but the injuries will concern teams.
The Blazers are extremely high on Leonard and always have been. Last offseason they tried to negotiate a contract extension with him, but he reportedly turned down a huge offer. The former Illinois star bet on himself that he would have a big breakout year, but unfortunately it doesn't seem like that will work out for him. Leonard will still likely be due a significant pay raise from the $3 million he is making this season, but his market may have shrunk because of his shoulder.
