Memphis Grizzlies: A Position-by-Position Breakdown (Power Forwards)
By Greg Chin
When former ESPN analyst John Hollinger joined the Memphis Grizzlies’ front office, the team showed an interest in moving towards using advanced statistics when it came to player management. Hollinger’s first big trade involved moving three Grizzlies and a 2015 first round draft pick for a relatively unknown player, Jon Leuer.
Leuer had played sparingly during his stints in Milwaukee and Cleveland, and many questioned the trade. However, Leuer impressed the Grizzlies and signed a 3 year contract worth $2.9 million.
Strengths: Shooting
Leuer’s ability to shoot from the three-point line brings an interesting dynamic to the Grizzlies’ offense. He brings floor spacing, and while he hasn’t shot regularly from behind the arc, that is mostly due to the design of Grizzlies’ offense. He averaged one 3-point shot attempt per game, shooting 46.9 percent when doing so.
The Grizzlies’ prioritize efficiency on offense, due to their slow offense. Leuer fits in perfectly with the team ethos, shooting at a league average in all zones except for the corner 3 (where he attempted only three shots).
Role players like Leuer are always a valuable asset on a contender. Teams value role players that know their role on the team and stick to it. Leuer does everything he is asked to do and plays to his limitations.
Weaknesses: Athleticism, Strength
Leuer and Z-Bo’s playing styles seem to oppose each other. Where Leuer relies on finesse to score, Randolph prefers to bully opponents with his brute strength. And it is against these strong power forwards where Leuer struggles.
Defensively, Leuer is a willing and capable defender. He has the tools and willingness to play hard D on his man, but often that is not enough. In the post, he is constantly backed down by bigger power forwards. When faced against more athletic fours, he does not have the athleticism to keep up, and finds himself frequently losing out.
Role and Expectations
After bouncing around on several teams, Leuer has seemingly found his place in the NBA with Memphis. Posting new career highs in multiple statistical categories, Leuer fits perfectly on the Grizzlies’ roster.
However, he might see a decrease in minutes after the Grizzlies drafted Jarnell Stokes. Stokes plays similarly to Z-Bo, and the front office might have drafted Stokes after seeing Leuer struggle against bigger forwards.