Hoops Habit
Fansided

Indiana Pacers: 5 goals for T.J. Leaf’s rookie season

By Adrian Lawhorn

NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 22: T.J. Leaf walks on stage with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being drafted 18th overall by the Indiana Pacers during the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 22, 2017 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 22: T.J. Leaf walks on stage with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being drafted 18th overall by the Indiana Pacers during the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 22, 2017 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 6
Next
NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 22: T.J. Leaf walks on stage with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being drafted 18th overall by the Indiana Pacers during the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 22, 2017 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 22: T.J. Leaf walks on stage with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being drafted 18th overall by the Indiana Pacers during the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 22, 2017 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /

The Indiana Pacers grabbed UCLA power forward T.J. Leaf with the 18th overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. Here are five goals for Leaf as he enters his rookie season.

The Indiana Pacers are a team in transition, and part of the changes that are taking place within the roster are connected to the recent 2017 NBA Draft.

Indiana drafted three players on June 22, but the one who will have the earliest opportunity to display his skills is T.J. Leaf, the Pacers’ first round pick out of UCLA.

Leaf is a 20-year-old power forward who joins the NBA after one season of college basketball playing in the competitive Pac-12 Conference.

T.J. Leaf projects to be a stretch-4 at the NBA level, but he has more to offer on the offensive end than just outside shooting. Leaf has a well-rounded game on that end of the floor, which will be his calling card as an NBA player.

Like all rookies though, Leaf will have plenty of room for improvement as he embarks on his initial NBA campaign. We have yet to see him in a real game situation, so how he will adapt to the NBA is a bit of a mystery at this point.

Based on his current strengths and weaknesses and how he is likely to be used by the Pacers, here are five goals for T.J. Leaf to strive for during his rookie season in Indiana.

Home/Indiana Pacers