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Illinois Basketball: Former Illini Meyers Leonard traded to the Miami Heat

By Rees Woodcock

PORTLAND, OR - MAY 20: Meyers Leonard #11 speaks with Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers during Game Four of the Western Conference Finals on May 20, 2019 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR - MAY 20: Meyers Leonard #11 speaks with Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers during Game Four of the Western Conference Finals on May 20, 2019 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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A former Illinois basketball player is on the move in the NBA.

It was first reported by Adrian Wojnarowski that the Miami Heat has traded Hassan Whiteside to the Portland Trail Blazers for Mo Harkless and Meyers Leonard. This is a trade that is moving Leonard, a former Illini center and developing big man in the NBA.

Leonard committed to Illinois in the class of 2010. He was a top 30 player in his class and the second-best player coming out of the state of Illinois. Leonard spent two seasons with the Illini. The first year he didn’t see much playing time but blossomed in year two. He averaged 13.6 points and 5.9 rebounds per game in his sophomore campaign. This was good enough for the NBA to come knocking and with the 11th pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, the Portland Trail Blazers selected Leonard.

While with Portland, Leonard hadn’t developed into the superstar some people thought he could be. For his career, he has averaged 5.6 points and 3.7 rebounds per game. Those aren’t great numbers for a former lottery pick. But Leonard started to come around during the 2019 NBA Playoffs.

In the final two games of the playoffs for the Trail Blazers, Leonard dropped 16 points, 4 assists and 3 rebounds in the second to last game and 30 points, 12 rebounds and 3 assists in the final game. Those numbers are indicative of what I have been expecting his entire career.

Leonard now gets a chance to restart his career in Miami. This is a move that might put Leonard in the spotlight even more. He is going to have a chance to be the Heat starting center for the upcoming season. With Whiteside out of Miami, this would clear the way for Leonard to shine.

Next. Projected Illini lineup with Adam Miller and DJ Steward. dark

I hope this is a great career move for Leonard. The NBA can be rough and you never know when you are going to be traded. He now joins another former Illini player, Kendrick Nunn, with the Heat as well. Maybe these two Orange and Blue bloods can take over South Beach.

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