Pascal Siakam seems to be taking Jarace Walker under his wing. This could be huge for the Indiana Pacers, but the team needs Walker to take a step forward next year. Otherwise, he may never solidify himself as a legitimate contributor on the roster.
The first two seasons of his NBA career were tough for Walker. Despite being drafted eighth overall in 2023, the Houston alum has left a lot to be desired on the court so far.
Walker struggled greatly during his rookie season, and while he showed a lot of improvement last season, he still needs to showcase a lot more to carve out a full-time role in Indiana.
There is a lot to like about Walker's game. He is very physical and has great size. Additionally, he has shown that he can contribute in every aspect of the game. However, he has not done enough to earn a consistent role or to leapfrog a player like Obi Toppin in the depth chart.
Next year, Walker will have the biggest opportunity of his career so far in order to prove that he is an asset, not a draft bust. And with Siakam now officially becoming his mentor, there is a lot to like about his outlook next season. However, there is a lot of pressure on Walker to make an impact next season as his performance could determine what his future in the league looks like.
Jarace Walker has a lot of potential to contribute in Indiana
At times, Walker has looked fantastic for the Pacers. He has had some games where he is knocking down shots while also being a big positive on the defensive side of the ball. However, he has also had other games where he is a complete non-factor on both sides of the ball and looks lost.
The idea of Walker is great, especially since he could greatly help the Pacers if he fulfills his potential. The Pennsylvania native is capable of playing both forward positions and can even play some small-ball center. Given Indiana's center situation next season, Walker might be a sneaky name to keep an eye on as they look to navigate through life without Myles Turner, who signed with the Milwaukee Bucks earlier in the offseason. Furthermore, it is clear that he has the talent to be an NBA-level contributor.
Walker also just turned 22 years old in September. He still has a lot of room to grow and has an incredibly high ceiling.
The 6-foot-8 forward has the tools to be a great player in Indiana, and he stepped up numerous times last season to prove this. However, his biggest general concern is his inconsistencies. Fans know that he can perform at a high level, but they need to see him do this regularly in order to truly believe. With his now having the biggest role of his young NBA career, he should have an opportunity to iron things out and make his stance with the Pacers crystal clear.
Next season, Pacers fans will keep their eyes on a lot of players, especially guys like Andrew Nembhard, Bennedict Mathurin, and Isaiah Jackson. However, Walker will be another crucial player to keep an eye on as he looks to finally solidify himself as a big-time contributor in Indiana.