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Indiana Pacers Love/Hate Series: T.J Leaf

By Jacob Breece

LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 01: Indiana Pacers Forward TJ Leaf (22) looks on during an NBA game between the Indiana Pacers and the Los Angeles Clippers on April 1, 2018 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 01: Indiana Pacers Forward TJ Leaf (22) looks on during an NBA game between the Indiana Pacers and the Los Angeles Clippers on April 1, 2018 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Myles Turner of the Indiana Pacers
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – OCTOBER 10: Lance Stephenson #1, T.J. Leaf #22, Myles Turner #33 and Bojan Bogdanovic #44 of the Indiana Pacers look on during a preseason game against Maccabi Haifa at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on October 10, 2017, in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

T.J Leaf’s role for the upcoming season

I fully expect the young power forward to start the season as Thad Youngs back-up. Yes, I hear the “T.J Leaf is not a good player crowd”. But, he’s going to get another shot at meaningful minutes just as he did last year. The Pacers need volume shooting and while they look to have improved that issue with the Doug McDermott/Tyreke Evans signings, Leaf would only further improve their lack of 3-point volume.

Of the three possible backup bigs to play beside Domas off the bench, T.J fits the best on paper. He gives the Pacers two high-level shooters in the second unit to give Sabonis and Tyreke the space they need to create for themselves and others. I expect Leaf to play between 10-15 behind Thad to start the year. But, if he shows a lack of awareness on defense and limited playmaking again on offense, his minutes may fade fast.

Next: Indiana Pacers Love/Hate Series: Darren Collison

That being said I have a feeling T.J Leaf may surprise a few people this year and maybe even himself. Hopefully, he can, for the Indiana Pacers sake.

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