Jarace Walker was drafted as the eighth overall pick in 2023 with the expectation that he could become the big forward capable of connecting every teammate on offense and defense. It was not a crazy ask. It was, after all, exactly what he had done at Houston just a year earlier.
However, Walker's role and space to improve have nearly evaporated. First came the trade for Pascal Siakam, a move that was still a win, and a major one at that, but one that buried Walker. Now, one year before his restricted free agency, the Indiana Pacers and Walker could be heading for a divorce.
But does it have to be a dissenting one? Does it have to end in infighting and hatred? Or is it possible that parting ways would be the best solution for both teams?
For the Pacers' part, they also cannot afford to hold onto Walker much longer. If he fails to produce at all this year, Indiana sees him enter free agency as a player who is likely not worth investing in. If he breaks out, the situation may be even worse, as Indiana does not have the money to pay him.
Walker wants to prioritize the opportunity to get paid, while the Pacers need him to be good enough to retain but bad enough to be affordable. It makes no sense for this marraige to continue when both are hoping not for a best case scenario, but for a middling option.
It feels self-defeating, and unfair to both parties.
Walker deserves a chance to show what he was drafted to be. The Pacers could do worse than offering him that.
Finding trade partners that make sense
Which teams need a power forward? What options are there for playing time and fair returns? Well, there's a very easy place to start.
The Minnesota Timberwolves, to this point in the offseason, will either start Jaden McDaniels out of position at the four or ride with Trey Lyles, who was out of the league last year. The are also perfectly suited for a player of Walker's talents.
Imagine Jarace as the connective piece in an offense centered on LaMelo Ball and Anthony Edwards' gravities. Imagine him as a short roll passer to Rudy Gobert or recent first-round pick Joan Beringer. Imagine him alongside Jaden McDaniels as a burly perimeter defender.
Think of that connective plan for him. There is no better place to become that than in Minnesota.
For the Pacers, a package around Josh Green's deal and a handful of seconds, or TJ Shannon off a breakout playoff run, could play into plans of either getting more flexible or getting younger. While it's worth asking if the Wolves would give up Shannon, he certainly would be fun in the most transition heavy offense in basketball.
If Indiana wants to take a more long-term view, Donte Divincenzo would be exactly the shooting specialist this roster badly needs.
Either way, there's a path here that would help both player and team in a way that doesn't require them to thread the needle in the same way their current approach would.
Why not be kind? That type of stuff does matter!
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