1 Worst-case, 1 realistic, 1 dream player comparison for Pacers’ Jarace Walker

With Tyrese Haliburton at the helm, the Indiana Pacers are set up beautifully for the future, and they added to their pile of assets this summer when they drafted Jarace Walker with the first pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.

Walker spent one year at Houston where he finished second on the team in scoring, second in rebounds, and tied for first in blocks. The 6-foot-8 forward is ready to fight for the starting power forward spot in Indiana.

Guys like Obi Toppin and Jalen Smith will fight with Walker for the spot, but the rookie’s upside could win out as the team will undoubtedly be looking to develop him into a star.

But as is the case with all rookies, there’s no guarantee Walker ends up being as great as the team hopes. Let’s take a look at one worst-case, one realistic, and one dream player comparison for the Pacers rookie.

1 Worst-case, 1 realistic, 1 dream player comparison for Pacers’ Jarace Walker: Worst-case comparison – Terrence Jones

With Walker’s skillset, it seems unlikely that he will end up being completely useless at the NBA level, as he has the frame and build of a solid player, but becoming Terrence Jones would be a disappointment.

Jones didn’t spend a long time in the NBA, but he enjoyed some successful seasons with the Houston Rockets. He averaged 10+ points in three different seasons across the course of his six-year stint in the league.

The 6-foot-9 power forward was a key rotation piece on some of the early James Harden-led Houston Rockets teams, earning 20+ minutes per game in the postseason.

That said, if Walker turned into Jones, the Pacers would be less than thrilled. They almost certainly have higher hopes for the eighth pick in the draft. (Jones was selected 18th overall in 2012.)