The jury is still out on whether Jarace Walker is truly a long-term asset to the Indiana Pacers moving forward. However, there is no denying that his last few months of play have been the best stretch of his NBA career, and according to ESPN's Zach Kram, the Houston alum should be in Indiana's rotation next season.
"Jarace Walker is finally rounding into form for the Pacers. ... The Pacers continue to lose almost every game they play, but Walker is proving he deserves a spot in their rotation next year, when they're at full strength and ready to win again," Kram wrote.
In 39 games since Christmas, Walker has averaged 13.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1 steal on 46.1% shooting from the field and 41.6% from deep.
Walker is far from a perfect player. He is also averaging 1.8 turnovers per game in that stretch, is still a questionable defender, and isn't a quick enough decision-maker. However, it seems clear that he is constantly improving. And at just 22 years old, there are reasons to think he's developing into a legitimate contributor.
Jarace Walker can help the Pacers win in the long term
Amid all his flaws, it's clear that the Pennsylvania native has talent, and it's easy to see what the Pacers see in him.
Walker is a jack-of-all-trades type of player. He's never going to be the best shooter, scorer, rebounder, ball-handler, or defender on the court. But he can provide value in all of these areas, and his all-around game makes it easy for him to complement the game of everybody else on the roster.
It's fair to say Walker probably won't ever live up to his pre-draft hype (he was drafted eighth overall in 2023), but he can still be a solid NBA player, and he's proving that right now.
Walker isn't someone who can take on too big a role. That's when he crumbles (much like he did earlier this season). But in the right role where his weaknesses can't be exposed as much, he can flourish. And once Tyrese Haliburton returns next season, and the Pacers are really ready to roll, Walker is going to be exactly where he needs to be.
Better days are ahead in Indiana, and the team should be able to re-enter the title picture as soon as next season. And if his recent play is any indication, Walker will likely be a big part of the team's quest to make it back to the NBA Finals and finish what they started last year.