Indiana Pacers: 5 takeaways from 2017 NBA Summer League

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - OCTOBER 06: Joe Young #3 of the Indiana Pacers brings the ball up court against the Chicago Bulls during a preseason game at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on October 6, 2016 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Pacers defeated the Bulls 115-108. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using the photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

4 of 6

3. Travis Leslie starts strong

27-year-old shooting guard Travis Leslie turned in one of the best performances for Indiana’s 2017 summer league team. He opened play with a pair of 20-point outings, which certainly got everyone’s attention.

Leslie didn’t finish as well as he started, but he still averaged 13.2 points and 5.0 rebounds per contest in Orlando overall. Leslie is a 6’4″, 205-pound wing who was drafted by the Los Angeles Clippers in 2011.

Leslie played for the Fort Wayne Mad Ants of the D-League in 2016-17, averaging 13.9 points and 6.2 rebounds on impressive shooting splits of .495/.363/.789.

There is some opportunity in the backcourt with the Pacers, particularly now that Monta Ellis has been waived. The team is currently light on shooting guards, so that is an area of need.

The likelihood is that Indiana will utilize veteran depth to back up projected starter Victor Oladipo, but Leslie has managed to put himself on the team’s radar.

Travis Leslie’s chances of making the 2017-18 regular season roster remain slim, but he showed enough during the Orlando Summer League to give Kevin Pritchard and the coaching staff something to think about.

Home/Indiana Pacers