Yardbarker: Leon Powe

Leon Powe and the Perfect Quote Machine

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 14:00:54 -0500

Leon Powe is a Cavalier and he has spoken. Mary Schmitt Boyer has an article from Thursday afternoon with some quotes from Leon Powe. Assuming he makes it back on the court sometime next year, and assuming there are some teeth to his quotes, Cavaliers fans have a lot to be excited about with this [...]

Cavaliers Shouldn’t Overlook Joe Smith

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 10:30:13 -0500

Yesterday we touched on how Leon Powe can help the Cavaliers by giving them some depth at the power forward. The issue there, however, is that Powe is currently rehabbing his knees after tearing his left ACL and having microfracture surgery. Even though the Cavaliers signed him now, they know he will not be able [...]

Leon Powe To Give Cavaliers Needed Depth

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 14:02:04 -0500

When examining the potential roster of the 2009-10 Cleveland Cavaliers, if there was one glaring hole, it was depth at the power forward position behind Anderson Varejao. Sure, there was last season’s rookie duo JJ Hickson and Darnell Jackson, but neither one has proven they can be relied on to log 12-18 minutes per game [...]

There Isn't Room For Leon

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 08:01:44 -0500

I love his game, his toughness, his tenacity and his story, but (despite the latest reports) there just isn't room on the Celtics for Leon Powe.

Prior to the start of last season, we knew Danny was going to have a difficult time re-signing both Glen Davis and Powe. Both are undersized players who can play only one position - power forward. They could only share minutes off the bench for so long. Eventually, the team would have to invest in one player. Unfortunately for both Powe and Davis, that player was Rasheed Wallace.

Need for 'Sheed
Wallace may be temperamental and 35-years old, but he's better than both of them. He brings extensive playoff experience, shooting range, length, rebounding, etc. Replace BBD with Wallace in the playoff series with the Orlando Magic and the Celtics win Game 7. He's now a key cog in this team.

The Minutes
Let's examine the minutes. Doc needs to fill 48 minutes at the power forward position and 48 minutes at the center position. Here's how I see it:

Perkins - 30 minutes at center
KG - 30 minutes at power forward
Rasheed Wallace - 18 minutes at center, 7 minutes at power forward

That leaves 11 minutes at the power forward position (and I'm being generous because Wallace could easily play another 5 minutes per game). Can you really divide that up among two players?

During the Celtics championship season of 2008 (a better reference since KG did not miss significant time), Leon and BBD each averaged about 14 minutes per game. Bottom line - there wouldn't be enough minutes for both players.

Powe vs Baby
Two different styles. Leon is a bruiser who loves to mix it up in the post. Davis brings more finesse to the court, along with a decent mid-range jumper. Powe is the better rebounder. So who gets the nod? Glen Davis.

You can't overlook Leon's knees. And no matter how great he looks in rehab, I question whether Leon will retain that explosiveness in the paint after having a third major knee surgery.

Big Baby doesn't get enough credit for his work ethic. He's shedded dozens of pounds since his rookie year. The Celtics asked him to work on a mid-range jumper and he did. Now we are hearing that he's adding additional range to that jumper. Yeah his rebounding needs work and so does his game around the basket, but I believe he's a more diverse player than Leon Powe.

Did Danny Miss Out?

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 21:31:00 -0500

It is official that Leon has signed with the Cavs for the vet minimum of $855,000 with a team option for next year as well. Here are some reports from Brian Windhorst, the Cavs beat reporter: Powe is doing well in his recovery from surgery and is ahead of schedule, but may not be back till Feb. But Cavs wants him for playoffs.Leon Powe signing should be official in morning. 2 years, $1.77 mil. Sources say Celtics tried to re-sign him after word got out about Cavs.Cavs are not done, they stil...

Celtics tried to get Powe back

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 20:38:32 -0500

This came in via the Cleveland Plain Dealer's beat writer Brian Windhorst on twitter (via CelticsBlog Twitter)

Leon Powe signing should be official in morning. 2 years, $1.77 mil. Sources say Celtics tried to re-sign him after word got out about Cavs.

Interesting. Maybe the C's didn't think he'd take the minimum. If true, maybe they think they misplayed their hand here.

Leon Looking for Revenge? Bring It

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 17:35:57 -0500

ESPN.com is reporting that the Cavs and Leon Powe have reached agreement on a two-year deal. I'm guessing Leon's surgically repaired left knee passed extensive testing.

Leon will likely sign a two-year, $1.77 million deal on Wednesday.

According to Chris Sheridan, Leon wants to make the Celtics pay:

Los Angeles, Portland, Dallas, Orlando and Miami also expressed interest in Powe, whose preference was to remain in the Eastern Conference and to sign with the team most capable of giving him his best shot to exact some revenge on the Celtics after they effectively gave up on him by declining to tender him a qualifying offer.

I've stated this before, I don't blame the Celtics for not offering Leon a qualifying offer. They've essentially replaced him with Rasheed Wallace. Anyone with an ounce of basketball sense realizes that's an upgrade.

If Leon wants to limit his options and sign with the Cavs so he can "exact revenge" on the Celtics, so be it. I'm going to love watching KG, Perk and 'Sheed swat away his shots as he takes his undersized game into the teeth of our defense.

Report: Leon Powe to sign with Cleveland

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 11:53:40 -0500

Brian Windhorst of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports that forward Leon Powe is “closing in” on a deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Yahoo Sports! reports that the deal would be two years for the minimum if Cleveland’s doctors are “satisfied with the progress of his injured left knee”. Powe re-tore his left ACL in the [...]

Powe close to signing with Cleveland

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 21:12:57 -0500

According to Adrian Wojnarowski on twitter.

If Leon Powe's rehabbing knee checks out with team doctors Tuesday in Cleveland, he will sign a 2-year deal with Cavs, source tells Y! Spts

I find it interesting that his knee would be healthy enough right now for a team to sign him. Credit to Leon for working his butt off. I won't be happy to see him in a Cavs uni, though.

Leon Power to Sign with Cavs

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 21:09:00 -0500

Marc Spears is reporting that if Leon's knee rehab checks out he will sign a 2 year contract with the Cavs. If Leon Powe's rehabbing knee is OK with team doctors Tuesday in Cleve, he will sign a 2-year deal with the Cavs, a source told Y! SportsI am very, very sad. I had been hoping that Leon would come back to the Celtics somehow. If the Cavs see the value of Leon playing for the second half of the season and playoffs, why can't Danny see it. I have no doubt that Leon will make i...

Have the Celtics Become the Rodney Dangerfield of the NBA?

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 09:25:00 -0500

It has been amazing to read article after article giving the Celtics no respect. The power rankings have the Celtics rated anywhere from 3rd to 5th behind the media darling Lakers, Cavs, Magic, and Spurs. Most writers are already writing off the Celtics as too old or not deep enough or just inferior to the Lakers, Cavs, Magic and Spurs. At least the Knicks haven't been ranked above them yet. The OC register has already awarded the title to the Lakers this year. No need to play the season...

These Anti-Celtics Leon Posts Are Ridiculous

Sat, 01 Aug 2009 15:01:05 -0500

Via Ball Don't Lie:

Then there's Leon Powe, who apparently is "way ahead of recovery" while coming back from another torn ACL, and could be off to Cleveland.

There's your perfect fit. Powe can play, and while I don't really want to touch too much on the Celtics refusing to even offer the guy a Qualifying Offer after years of solid bench play from Powe (a move that was as short-sighted — Rasheed Wallace? — as it was distasteful), it would be a bit of poetic justice if he were to get up, dust himself off, and starting putting up big nights for the Cavaliers off their pine.

If he's 90 percent of his old self by Thanksgiving, the Cavs have pulled off a huge move. Powe can score and score and score and score, and with Cleveland Cavaliers assistant coach John Kuester turning into Detroit Pistons head coach John Kuester, the Cavaliers need all the good hands they can find.

I'm fed up with all these anti-Celtics posts regarding Leon Powe. I believe it's something the haters are using as a reason to attack the greatest franchise in the history of professional basketball.

I guarantee that had the Cavs or Lakers signed Rasheed Wallace over a guy who is coming off his third left knee reconstruction (and microfracture surgery), there'd be nothing but praise for those organizations.

From a payroll perspective, the Celtics are maxed out. They don't have the room to reward Leon with a qualifying offer (such an offer wouldn't be close to enough, if you believe David Aldrige). There is too much risk. You can't tie up salary on a guy who won't be back until February (if then) and even then, you won't know how much he'll contribute.

I love Leon, but to say he can "score and score and score and score" is laughable. He's a helluva role player, and one tough SOB, but let's not go overboard.

Sign the Re-Sign Leon Powe-tition

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 22:46:00 -0500

Jeff on CelticsBlog posted this petition and I think it is a good idea. If you would like the Celtics to bring back Leon Powe, please sign this petition to be sent to the Celtics organization. Go here to add your name to Celtics Fans who want Leon back. This guy gave all he had to the Celtics and now Danny is just casting him aside. He said he can't use a valuable roster spot for him. He didn't seem to be concerned about using a roster spot for Sam Cassell, who never played a minute ...

The sad reality about the Leon Powe decision

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:01:00 -0500

I hate that Leon Powe was not offered a contract. Hate it. But I get it. Had the Celtics offered, and Powe accepted, the qualifying offer from the Celtics... they would have been on the hook for about $1.6 million...

Baby gets offer, Powe doesn't, & Sheed news

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 22:02:16 -0500

Scott Souza has the scoop.

While the Celtics did retain the right to match any contract offer to Glen Davis through the qualifying offer, Ainge said the injury status of Leon Powe - who had reconstructive left knee surgery after tearing his ACL in the playoff series vs. the Bulls - was a determining factor in the decision.

Ainge said Powe has been rehabbing with the team’s medical staff and will continue to have access to the staff, if he chooses, despite no longer being with the team. Ainge said he believed Powe was planning to continue his rehab in California.

The qualifying offer for Baby was expected. The lack of one for Powe, sadly, is also not a huge surprise. I was hoping the C's would offer him one, but that was based on pure emotion. Danny can't be bound by that and... business wise... it's a decision the C's had to make. Maybe they'll bring him back when he's healthy down the road. But for now... Leon Powe is no longer a member of the Boston Celtics.

Man... it makes me sad just type that.

Meanwhile, Gary Tanguay said tonight on the air that Rasheed Wallace would be visiting Boston this week. Tanguay's been on the 'Sheed train since the beginning. Let's see how it turns out.