INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – APRIL 14: Jarace Walker #5 of the Indiana Pacers dribbles against AJ Griffin … [+] #14 of the Atlanta Hawks at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on April 14, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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 Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
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The Indiana Pacers have put themselves in an odd position, and one that could eventually see them waste the potential of a former lottery pick if they don’t act on it.
During the 2023 NBA Draft, the Pacers made a trade, acquiring Jarace Walker, who was drafted eighth overall. The power forward out of Houston was broadly viewed as a draft darling, capable of shooting the ball, making plays, rebounding, passing, and defending at a solid level.
His vast set of skills were frequently on display at the collegiate level, endearing him to basketball fans far and wide, including the Pacers who saw enough in him to use a lottery selection on him, via an earlier trade with the Washington Wizards.
Walker’s rookie season, however, didn’t exactly showcase those abilities. Not because he disappointed, but because he rarely saw the floor. The 6’8 forward played 340 minutes, spanning 33 games, and found himself behind Pascal Siakam, Obi Toppin, and Jalen Smith on the depth chart.
This summer, the Pacers lost Smith, but both Siakam and Toppin are back. Myles Turner, the team’s starting center, is also back. Finally, so is Isaiah Jackson, who is likely to become the team’s backup center for this upcoming season.
Where does this leave Walker?
That is a fairly big question given his skill set, and his potential. If the Pacers aren’t going to nurture his skills, and put him in a situation where he can crack the rotation, you have to wonder if they might feel forced to trade him, while he still has value.
In the NBA, trade value is often tied together with minutes played, and if the Pacers are disinclined to provide those minutes for Walker, it’ll eventually mean they could be selling at a loss.
A significant portion of rebuilding NBA teams should be all over Walker, if he’s made available. His diverse skill set, and upside, is exactly the type of player to roll the dice on, particularly if there are minutes to spend on him.
The San Antonio Spurs, Chicago Bulls, Charlotte Hornets, Brooklyn Nets, Portland Trail Blazers, and Toronto Raptors should all have their wires out, gathering intel on the situation.
Walker’s combination of shooting ability, defensive versatility, and short-roll playmaking upside allows him to be used in a wide variety of lineups, with many types of different talent around him.
He can be put next to a do-it-all-center as a floor spacer. He can play high-low with an interior wing scorer. He can become a hockey assist generator on a deeper team.
Walker’s overall flexibility is too interesting to rot on any bench. Perhaps the Pacers will try to make an effort to get him on the floor this season, but it’ll more than likely come at the expense of someone, which is where it gets tricky.
The theoretical fit between Walker and Tyrese Haliburton is sky high, but for the Pacers to realize it, development minutes will be crucial, making this season enormously important to the continued relationship between them, and their former lottery pick.
Unless noted otherwise, all stats via NBA.com, PBPStats, Cleaning the Glass or Basketball-Reference. All salary information via Spotrac. All odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook.
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