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Post by dss03 on May 23, 2024 11:38:41 GMT -6
Malevy has picked up a fan here. www.threewindsports.org/post/malevy-leons-the-dutch-swiss-army-knifeI agree with a lot of what he’s observing. Some of the bullets about Leons weak areas, in my view, undercut his Kyle Anderson comparison a little. Slo-Mo is a really good low usage connecting piece on offense, with some real playmaking ability. I don’t see Malevy building that, and see his path more in being able to bang corner 3’s above 35% and being able to beat close outs a bit too. More limited on offense, but if he can stay low usage, but efficient, I see a live path for Malevy. I do see both being able to be solid defensively, though. My brother made the same comparison to Kyle in the past. There are some similarities. Nice to see fans that see the tape and appreciate his game. Hope he finds a landing spot…I’ve assumed a 2 way is the best case scenario for him, especially when he didn’t get any additional invites after Portsmouth (where I did think he showed well). |
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Post by squirrel on May 23, 2024 12:47:38 GMT -6
I'm going to predict the Orlando Magic sign him as an undrafted free agent. AP taking a flyer on his alma mater.
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Post by dss03 on May 23, 2024 13:42:42 GMT -6
I'm going to predict the Orlando Magic sign him as an undrafted free agent. AP taking a flyer on his alma mater. I have thought about that possibility too. It can’t hurt him that he is a rock solid good dude that has proven to accept various levels of offensive workload depending on the need and situation. I expect him to have summer league options all over the place, and maybe someone to step up with a 2 way to differentiate themselves….but we’ll see soon. |
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Post by SFP on May 23, 2024 21:08:27 GMT -6
Why not just head to Europe and make more? It's not like the NBA is not scouting Europe. He's not going to make a roster spot in the NBA. The G League is getting better and there is a chance to be called up but the chance is fairly low.
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JMM28
Benchwarmer
Posts: 64
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Post by JMM28 on May 24, 2024 8:33:02 GMT -6
I think you greatly overestimate the money paid to euro rookies.
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Post by squirrel on May 24, 2024 12:48:02 GMT -6
Also, players with NBA experience have underwhelmed in this year's EuroLeague, generally.
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Post by SFP on May 24, 2024 13:22:26 GMT -6
I think you greatly overestimate the money paid to euro rookies. and you're over estimating how much G League players make. "As of February 2024, the minimum salary for an NBA G League player is $40,500 for a five-to-six month season, which is an increase from $37,000. As of May 2024, the average hourly pay for an NBA G League player is $18.57." Can they make more? Yes, if an NBA team wants to make sure they stick around. I'd be surprised if Leons is in that top echelon category. His upside will dictate where they'd peg him. Top Euro league salaries are around $500 K. They can make anywhere from $60 K to a $1-2 M depending on league. They also can get perks such as housing, transportation and food. europrobasket.com/overseas-basketball-salaries/ |
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Post by dss03 on May 24, 2024 20:32:19 GMT -6
Why not just head to Europe and make more? It's not like the NBA is not scouting Europe. He's not going to make a roster spot in the NBA. The G League is getting better and there is a chance to be called up but the chance is fairly low. The biggest thing on that seems to be that he has no apparent reason to make a decision on that yet, at this stage. That may ultimately make the most sense for him, but he can see how this plays out. |
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Post by tribecalledquest2024 on May 24, 2024 20:45:34 GMT -6
If Malevy’s goal is the NBA he would be wise to hang around the States and the G League for a couple seasons. If he isn’t getting any sniffs then he can go to Europe and continue his career. As a European national he will have a lot of value to pro teams over there.
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Post by SFP on May 25, 2024 12:43:18 GMT -6
If Malevy’s goal is the NBA he would be wise to hang around the States and the G League for a couple seasons. If he isn’t getting any sniffs then he can go to Europe and continue his career. As a European national he will have a lot of value to pro teams over there. In NBA years Leon is not young. His upside is marginal. He either has a specific situation on a G League team where he has a shot during the season to get a call up to the NBA or he heads to Europe to maximize his income. Going to Europe does not mean he can't come back to a NBA team. If he does get interest from an NBA team he'll be in better shape to negotiate a deal. He wouldn't be the first. This is a path being taken by plenty of NBA players. |
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Post by tribecalledquest2024 on May 25, 2024 14:06:17 GMT -6
If Malevy’s goal is the NBA he would be wise to hang around the States and the G League for a couple seasons. If he isn’t getting any sniffs then he can go to Europe and continue his career. As a European national he will have a lot of value to pro teams over there. In NBA years Leon is not young. His upside is marginal. He either has a specific situation on a G League team where he has a shot during the season to get a call up to the NBA or he heads to Europe to maximize his income. Going to Europe does not mean he can't come back to a NBA team. If he does get interest from an NBA team he'll be in better shape to negotiate a deal. He wouldn't be the first. This is a path being taken by plenty of NBA players. If he is close to the NBA the G League is where he needs to be. He should only go to Europe right now if evaluators tell him he’s not really close to that level. Of course it depends on the deal gets with the G League. In 2024 getting to the NBA is happening far more often with G League call ups than going over to Europe and picking up a veteran who has been there a while. |
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Post by ph on May 29, 2024 7:53:19 GMT -6
Leons 1st pre-draft workout is with the Knicks
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Post by ph on May 29, 2024 7:55:29 GMT -6
And also has workouts scheduled with the Magic and Cavaliers
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Post by squirrel on May 29, 2024 14:26:59 GMT -6
My biggest concern with Mal is how rail thin his legs are, and their ability to hold up over 10-15 years.
But I am excited to see the Magic interested - they are not super-identical players, but I do see Mal having a career very similar to AP - maybe fringe NBA early-on, go to Europe and become an MVP, and then come back and have a successful run of years in the NBA, and maybe find a few titles in both continents.
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Post by tribecalledquest2024 on May 29, 2024 15:33:10 GMT -6
My biggest concern with Mal is how rail thin his legs are, and their ability to hold up over 10-15 years. But I am excited to see the Magic interested - they are not super-identical players, but I do see Mal having a career very similar to AP - maybe fringe NBA early-on, go to Europe and become an MVP, and then come back and have a successful run of years in the NBA, and maybe find a few titles in both continents. Mal can’t shoot it like AP and never will. AP really never should have been in Europe. He was always an NBA level player. The injury was his issue. |
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Post by squirrel on May 30, 2024 7:17:40 GMT -6
Not worth quibbling over - but I'd say shooting is a push. Mal's career numbers overall are better, but slightly worse on 3, but I would say he largely underperformed from 3 the last 2 years. Also, Mal had the international line.
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Post by Braves4Life on May 31, 2024 8:42:37 GMT -6
My biggest concern with Mal is how rail thin his legs are, and their ability to hold up over 10-15 years. But I am excited to see the Magic interested - they are not super-identical players, but I do see Mal having a career very similar to AP - maybe fringe NBA early-on, go to Europe and become an MVP, and then come back and have a successful run of years in the NBA, and maybe find a few titles in both continents. I love Mal and hope he succeeds, but I don't think he's even close to the player that AP was. Like tribe said, AP was a better shooter and overall offensive player. Mal has the edge defensively but that's about it. AP was too frail when originally drafted, but once he put on some muscle he was a legit NBA player. Remember, AP was a first round NBA draft pick whereas Leons probably won't get drafted at all. |
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Post by SFP on Jun 1, 2024 14:34:23 GMT -6
My biggest concern with Mal is how rail thin his legs are, and their ability to hold up over 10-15 years. But I am excited to see the Magic interested - they are not super-identical players, but I do see Mal having a career very similar to AP - maybe fringe NBA early-on, go to Europe and become an MVP, and then come back and have a successful run of years in the NBA, and maybe find a few titles in both continents. I love Mal and hope he succeeds, but I don't think he's even close to the player that AP was. Like tribe said, AP was a better shooter and overall offensive player. Mal has the edge defensively but that's about it. AP was too frail when originally drafted, but once he put on some muscle he was a legit NBA player. Remember, AP was a first round NBA draft pick whereas Leons probably won't get drafted at all. Mal is a two way player which is a good thing but in today's NBA you have to be able to be a scorer unless you're an absolute athletic beast. I'd be shocked and pleased if he gets drafted. I'd have to believe the chance of getting two way contract is very low. In the last decade where would you rank him compared to all the other BU players where only one guy has seen the floor in an NBA game? |
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Post by dss03 on Jun 1, 2024 15:03:03 GMT -6
I love Mal and hope he succeeds, but I don't think he's even close to the player that AP was. Like tribe said, AP was a better shooter and overall offensive player. Mal has the edge defensively but that's about it. AP was too frail when originally drafted, but once he put on some muscle he was a legit NBA player. Remember, AP was a first round NBA draft pick whereas Leons probably won't get drafted at all. Mal is a two way player which is a good thing but in today's NBA you have to be able to be a scorer unless you're an absolute athletic beast. I'd be shocked and pleased if he gets drafted. I'd have to believe the chance of getting two way contract is very low. In the last decade where would you rank him compared to all the other BU players where only one guy has seen the floor in an NBA game? Really highly. |
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Post by SFP on Jun 1, 2024 17:04:29 GMT -6
Besides Walt not one other player sniffed a chance in the NBA. Lemon is an athletic beast with a motor. Top 10 in the last decade in no particular order?
1 Walt
2 EC
3 DB
4 Rienk Mast
5 Malevy Leons
6 Ja'Shon Henry
7 Donte Thomas
8 Josh Cunningham
9 DLO
10 Connor Linke or Nate Wells ;-)
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