Will Leonard be an 18-20 ppg player with Tony when Timmy, Manu retire?

[N0 LyF3 ScRuB]

It's obvious he's our fourth option, but it looks like he's being groomed to take over. With Tony possibly being past his peak by the time Timmy and Manu retire next year, I expect Leonard to take over. What do you think?

[jARS mEsH sEt]

If he ever learns to dribble the ball properly, then maybe. His ability to handle the ball in a 1 on 1 or pick and roll situation is strikingly below average. I don't think he'll ever be a first option on any team, but he'll always be an important championship piece due to his defense and offensive competence as a fourth option.

[CitizenDwayne]

He's averaging 15 since his return, and his usage level is relatively low.

So yes. He will.

[Bynumite]

lolkiwi :lol

[Maddog]

If he ever learns to dribble the ball properly, then maybe....

That and a post move or two. With his length should have an advantage.

[Raven]

that's a pointless question, the points column is more dependent of the usage rating than of the actual talent of the player.

[Splits]

That and a post move or two. With his length should have an advantage.

Huh? He's got one of the highest conversion rates from the low block in the league.

[HarlemHeat37]

Easily..

His post game is elite for a wing player(ranks in the top 3 in the league this season), mid-range jump shot is solid, great transition player, attacks the basket well, shoots the 3..his only offensive flaw is his ball-handling, but that hasn't prevented many other weak ball-handling SFs from being 18 point scorers, tbh..

He will never be a #1 guy, but he has the potential to be a solid #2, tbh..

[jARS mEsH sEt]

That and a post move or two. With his length should have an advantage.

I like his post game already.

I got really excited early in the season because I saw Leonard execute a couple of proper pick and rolls and take the ball all the way to the basket, finishing with a manu-like eurostep. I thought he had finally made that next step to becoming a fringe all star-caliber player.

His ball handling has been a disappointment ever since then, however. It's good enough to dribble coast to coast in transition on a fast break, but it's not yet good enough to consistently run a pick and roll where Leonard ends up driving all the way to the rim and finishing.

It's good enough to run a pick and roll where Leonard pulls up for a mid range jumper, though.

[jARS mEsH sEt]

Huh? He's got one of the highest conversion rates from the low block in the league.

Yeah his post game is already extremely good. I'm glad that we haven't gone to it much during the regular season because this way we're keeping it "off the radar" as a viable option for contenders who watch regular season film in preparation for the Spurs.

[TheyCallMePro]

I hope he won't. I want him to stay the smart, savvy, team-first player that he is now.

Every time he takes an isolation shot I cringe. I really hope that's not where he's going. Jackers don't ever win.

[Destro]

he will be somebody's Pippen

[slick'81]

Sure I mean somebody will have to score right ?

[ceds]

Not until his handles improve (and they will)

It took Derozan and Paul George 3/4 seasons to get elite in that aspect.

Kawai and Terrance Ross are on pace. 20 - 25 ppg by the time he is 25 no doubt

[exstatic]

He could be a 20 point scorer on a bad team right now.

[Arcadian]

Every NBA team averages at least 90 ppg (correct me if I'm wrong). So there are at least 90 points to distribute among 10 or fewer players. So every team is bound to have at least one 18 ppg scorer.

[Mhak]

Hard to say! Parker will love it when the two retires. Hero ball at its best!

[Mikeanaro]

Yeah, it seems reasonable for him.

[Baam]

Doubtful.

Kawhi gets the benefit of being at the very bottom of the scouting report right now with Tiago... in the PO he got the least defensive pressure with team focusing on TP Green, Manu and TD...

When he post up it's most of the time on mismatches, I don't see a dominant post player at the 3... Dominant post players at the 3 look like Smith/Boris... I don't think he's that strong for the position at this point, Boris defends Carmelo and Lebron better in the post because they can't push him around.

Only way he becomes a 20ppg player is if he go to another team that lets him do it on a bad efficiency imo...

[Captivus]

What about his FG%?

[Cowboys_Wear_Spurs]

Yes. Pretty much every game where Parker, Manu & Duncan sit the past two years Kawhi has average just that. Same goes for Patty as well.

[barakz21]

I don't know if he'll ever be THE man on the team when the big 3 are out, but so far I like , no, love what I'm seeing. He looks like a poor man's Lebron. Does a little bit of everything, shooting, defense, rebounding, a little bit of slashing, some playmaking sprinkled with some highlight plays here and there. The only thing that's certain with him is that he's got a bright future in the league.

[SupremeGuy]

Patty, Kawhi, Green, Beli, Splitter, Baynes, and Daye are the future.

:lobt2:

[KawhiLeonard]

22ppg/8 reb/3assist/2stl/1block once its kiwis team

[KawhiLeonard]

Patty, Kawhi, Green, Beli, Splitter, Baynes, and Daye are the future.

:lobt2:

What bout LJC

[SupremeGuy]

What bout LJCWhat about him? I'll include him if he decides to come over next year.

[SnakeBoy]

Patty, Kawhi, Green, Beli, Splitter, Baynes, and Daye are the future.

:lobt2:

If that's true then never making the playoffs again is the future.

[wildchild]

Doubtful.

Kawhi gets the benefit of being at the very bottom of the scouting report right now with Tiago... in the PO he got the least defensive pressure with team focusing on TP Green, Manu and TD...

His best offensive games were w/o Duncan/Parker/Manu, against really good defenders like Deng/Jimmy Buttler (vs Bulls last season) and Iggy (this season vs Warriors).


When he post up it's most of the time on mismatches, I don't see a dominant post player at the 3... Dominant post players at the 3 look like Smith/Boris... I don't think he's that strong for the position at this point, Boris defends Carmelo and Lebron better in the post because they can't push him around

His improvement tells otherwise.
I've said before that I'd like the Spurs develop Leonard effectively as a post player than a shooter, because he's extremely efficient on his low-post moves.
Like you said, maybe he doesn't look dominant/strong at this point of his career, but the kid has a high post-player ceiling and just isn't there yet, lot of space to grow and develop a 22years 3rd season guy.


Only way he becomes a 20ppg player is if he go to another team that lets him do it on a bad efficiency imo

Agree. Obviously in this team, the kid never will be a 20-10 guy.
The Spurs are and will be Tony's team. Take last game for a tiny example of the season. TP 4-13, KL 6-8, but still didn't pass the ball to him.

After his return, the kid said to Andrew Monaco "I always get on the guys about throwing me more lobs."
And Tony would have said: "WTF...We're not the Clips! However, I'm score-first, you YoungGangstaWhi want to score? get a f........ rebound, go coast to coast, and score. No lobs, no passes, no nothing"

[james evans]

if parker retired too then yes. i can only imagine how much parker will shoot with timmy and ginobli gone.

[exstatic]

What about him? I'll include him if he decides to come over next year.

Yet, you included Daye, who's only partially guaranteed next year.

[SupremeGuy]

But Daye and his sweet stroke are actually on the team right now...

[LkrFan]

he will be somebody's Pippen
B:lolbcats?

[superjames1992]

Just because Manu and Timmy retire doesn't mean Enrique is actually going to pass the ball to Kawhi. :lol

I'd expect Tony to start jacking up 20+ shots per game and maybe average 30-35 PPG on 40% FG, tbh. Kawhi might up his average to 14 PPG, mostly off of offensive rebounds and "garbage" points.

[jARS mEsH sEt]

Just because Manu and Timmy retire doesn't mean Enrique is actually going to pass the ball to Kawhi. :lol

I'd expect Tony to start jacking up 20+ shots per game and maybe average 30-35 PPG on 40% FG, tbh. Kawhi might up his average to 14 PPG, mostly off of offensive rebounds and "garbage" points.

:lmao at how fucking stupid manutards are. "Enrique" routinely leads the league for field goal percentage efficiency among guards.

You're literally blind, stupid, or both if you think Tony Parker is some inefficient "hero-balling" chucker. His efficiency from the field is consistently spectacular over many games. Yeah, sometimes he shits the bed in any single game (like last year's finals).

[superjames1992]

:lmao at how fucking stupid manutards are. "Enrique" routinely leads the league for field goal percentage efficiency among guards.

You're literally blind, stupid, or both if you think Tony Parker is some inefficient "hero-balling" chucker. His efficiency from the field is consistently spectacular over many games. Yeah, sometimes he shits the bed in any single game (like last year's finals).
:lol