With Bennedict Mathurin no longer on the roster, the Indiana Pacers are in desperate need of another go-to bench scorer. While this isn't his bread and butter, maybe this is an opportunity for Jarace Walker to take advantage of and further solidify himself as a long-term asset to the team.
Indiana traded Mathurin to the Los Angeles Clippers for Ivica Zubac just before this year's deadline. And while it is way too soon to say which team got the better end of the deal (Zubac hasn't even made his Pacers debut yet), one thing is crystal clear: Indiana is going to miss having Mathurin around.
There were genuine concerns about the Canadian native's long-term fit with the Pacers. He was a streaky ball-dominant wing on a team that relied on pushing the tempo and moving the ball. However, he was also an incredibly gifted scorer who could put the ball on the floor and score at all three levels while being a real threat to drive to the rim.
When Mathurin is hot, he is borderline unstoppable, and the Pacers are going to miss his iso scoring and shot creation. There doesn't seem to be a clear plan in place to replace him, and there aren't many players currently on the roster who can take his role. However, with Walker finally coming into his own, maybe he's the solution to one of the Pacers' biggest questions.
Jarace Walker can become a go-to bench option for the Pacers
Walker has a completely different skillset from Mathurin. He is more of a physical brute who can play and guard every position while not being as gifted a scorer. Regardless, he has come a long way this season, and the sky is the limit for the 22-year-old.
Since Christmas, Walker has averaged 12.4 points while shooting 48.6% from the field and 46.4% from deep in 24 games (and just seven starts).
His shot is beginning to fall on a more consistent basis, and he looks way more comfortable on the court. He still has ways to go to match Mathurin's value (particularly as a shot creator), but it seems like he is trending in that direction.
Walker should be in line for a bigger role for the rest of this season and all of next season. At this point, he has shown time and time again just what he can bring to the table, and that should excite the Pacers as they look to make it back to championship contention sooner rather than later.