With free agency looming, Leonard says he’s in ‘good place here in Miami’

Along with several other Miami Heat rotation players, Meyers Leonard will become a free agent this off-season. He started every game for the Heat at center before missing Miami’s last 16 games before the NBA suspended the season March 11.

In an interview with The Oregonian columnist John Canzano, Leonard said that he’s “in a good place here in Miami.”

The following is an excerpt from Anthony Chiang’s article:

“I’m in a good place here in Miami,” Leonard said on the podcast. “I really feel as though I help Jimmy [Butler] and Bam [Adebayo] in a lot of ways. I space the floor, I give them opportunities to attack driving lanes and get out in transition. Again, I don’t mind taking the physical demand. I don’t mind boxing out every single time. If the ball comes to me, fine. If we get it, that’s great and that’s what I want.”

Aside from Leonard, Goran Dragic, Jae Crowder and Derrick Jones Jr. will all be free agents. And the uncertainty regarding the rest of this season could impact Miami’s ability to re-sign their players.

Leonard helped space the floor in a starting lineup with Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, two non-shooters. But he averaged just 20 minutes a game. Could Miami look to draft a stretch-5 to have someone filling Leonard’s role on a rookie contract?