If the Indiana Pacers want to stay below the luxury tax next season (which will become even more difficult if they get their first-round pick back), they're going to have to cut some costs in the offseason. And the top candidate is probably nobody other than Jarace Walker, whose future with the team remains uncertain.
The jury is still out on whether Walker can actually be an asset in Indiana. And that remains the case following his third season with the league, though fans have more reason to be optimistic than before.
In 76 games this past season, the Houston alum averaged 11.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 2.5 assists while shooting 41.9% from the field and 37.4% from deep. A lot of his flaws seemed to be ironed out (his inconsistencies on both sides of the ball, his confidence, and his underwhelming physicality), but there are still some concerns:
1) He is still a lackluster on-ball defender, 2) he still forces too many passes and turns the ball over too often (he had 18 games with three or more turnovers, including an eight-turnover appearance against the Utah Jazz on Feb. 3), 3) he still crumbles under pressure, particularly as a playmaker, and 4) his improvements could just be a standard tale of "empty stats on a tanking team," and are not actually indicative of his development or ability to impact winning basketball.
With Walker eligible for a rookie-scale contract extension this summer, the Pacers have a big decision to make. But if recent history is any indication, then he may have already played his last game for the team.
A Jarace Walker trade might be inevitable for the Pacers
In the last year alone, Indiana moved on from Myles Turner (or Myles Turner moved on from Indiana, depending on who you ask) and traded Bennedict Mathurin to the Los Angeles Clippers as a way to stay under the luxury tax. As it stands, Walker could be next on the list of the Pacers' cap casualties.
Realistically, the Pennsylvania native's value might never be higher than it is right now. He is fresh off of what was mostly a good campaign. He is still on his rookie deal. And he is still just 22 years old. If the Pacers were to ever trade him, now would be the time. (And this isn't even factoring in the possibility of them drafting AJ Dybantsa, Cameron Boozer, or Caleb Wilson, who could all immediately replace Walker's spot in the rotation).
Walker can still develop into a legitimate NBA contributor, and nobody should ignore how much he grew from the start of last season to the end. But if it comes down to it, trading him might be the best decision for both the Pacers and him for the long haul.
Add us as a preferred source on Google