Jarace Walker was pegged by many to be a breakout candidate for the Indiana Pacers this season. The former eighth-overall pick has been a bust so far in his career after being drafted eighth overall in 2023. While his draft-classmate Ben Sheppard has also been a disappointment, he at least has the injury excuse. Walker has been consistently available and still bad without showing real improvement.
Now, with more opportunity on his plate than ever, with injuries wiping out over half of the Pacers roster, Walker has been doing his best to end his career in Indiana with lackluster shows of talent, consistency, and, most importantly, effort.
With his rookie contract coming to an end after this season, it really felt like Walker would have some urgency in his efforts to earn a second contract, but his play has been hugely disappointing both in a vacuum and in context.
It seems like the player who was a fiery, passionate connector at Houston is no longer there. Time will tell if Walker can become an impact player in the NBA – being a top-10 pick usually gives you enough leeway to be pretty useless and still earn an opportunity elsewhere – but he will not be one for Indiana, leaving the Pacers with no choice but to look elsewhere. Luckily, the replacement is already on the roster.
Jalen Slawson should supplant Jarace Walker in minute hierarchy
You know what is the quickest swing factor in role players succeeding in their role in the NBA? Buy-in and effort.
Maybe that's why the Pacers' two-way contract players are so much more interested in making an impact than their semi-recent top draft selection. Nowhere is that more evident than in the case of Jalen Slawson, who pops off the screen even on nights where his box score impact looks subpar.
The Furman wing fights through screens, dives for loose balls, and has been demonic in his effort on rebounds. Despite being the team's leading option in Las Vegas Summer League, Slawson has adapted to being a complementary player quite well. He shoots threes at a near-average rate while defending adequately and shows a little promise in attacking closeouts.
Maybe that's what makes Walker so deeply upsetting. He had a larger on-ball load in college, but was generally in the same role he is now figured to fill in the NBA. It should be easy! Even more so, if a G-League player who was cut twice can learn and embrace these things so quickly, why can't a top prospect?
Either way, the reality of who Walker is is becoming clear, and that's a bad thing for both player and team.
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