NOVEMBER 25: The deal between the Pacers and the Thunder is now official, with the Thunder acquiring Leaf and a 2027 second-round pick in exchange for Lecque, the team announced in a press release.
NOVEMBER 22: The Thunder are acquiring yet another draft pick, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, who reports (via Twitter) that Oklahoma City will receive a future second-round pick and forward T.J. Leaf from the Pacers in a deal that sends guard Jalen Lecque to Indiana.
Lecque, a former Sun, was one of the players sent to the Thunder in this week’s Chris Paul trade. He signed a four-year contract with Phoenix as an undrafted free agent a year ago, but only saw action in five NBA games as a rookie. The 20-year-old has a guaranteed $1.52MM salary this season with no guarantees beyond for 2020/21.
It’s not clear whether the Pacers are intent on keeping and developing Lecque, since the move appears to be financially motivated too. As Scott Agness of Fieldhouse Files tweets, moving Leaf’s $4.33MM salary for ’20/21 will allow Indiana to slip back below the luxury tax line.
The Thunder will acquire yet another future draft pick as a sweetener for taking on that extra salary, adding another second-rounder to the long list of draft assets GM Sam Presti has picked up during the last couple offseasons.
It doesn’t seem safe to assume this offseason that any newly-acquired player will remain in Oklahoma City for long, but if the Thunder hang onto Leaf, they’ll be getting a player who hasn’t carved out a regular rotation role since being drafted 18th overall in 2017. He averaged just 3.0 PPG and 2.5 RPG in 28 games (7.9 MPG) for the Pacers in 2019/20.
Sure….
Leaf can play and deserves an opportunity. McMillan never gave him minutes. He should get that on rebuilding Thunder. Long…good shooter…good guy.
Thunder current salary $108M
Thunder would pay luxury tax if they acquire Batum from Hornets.
Why would they put themselves in a position to pay the luxury after they just blew up the team? Does that make any sense to you??
Leaf already seemed like a real gym rat. High IQ player. Not quite as athletic as a lot of the league but he is going to give you his all.
This lecque kid has alot of intrigue. I’m not suprised teams are trading for him.
Leaf had a ton of pre-Covid DNPs. Last man off the bench basically, having “earned” that by performance in practice and games.
His ceiling is #10 rotation guy and his floor is 2020 TJ Leaf….