Jarace Walker looked like he may have been figuring things out in late November, but he has struggled to shoot the ball in December.
The story of Walker's first two seasons with the Indiana Pacers was one of inconsistency. Whether it was his own performance or just his playing time, the beginning of Walker's career in the NBA was exactly that: inconsistent.
Many fans were hoping for the Houston alum to iron things out now that he is taking on a bigger role this season, and it looked like that was finally happening as he looked more comfortable. In his last four games in November, Walker averaged 12 points, 6 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 24.3 minutes while shooting 50% from the field and 45% from deep.
It was a small sample size, but given that Walker had shown flashes in the past, there were reasons to believe that this was a trend, not just an outlier. However, things have not gone as well for him in December as he is averaging 7 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1 assist in 18.8 minutes on 35% shooting from the field and 25% from deep.
There is still a lot to like about Walker. He is versatile and can provide value on both sides of the ball. But the longer the season goes, the less confident the Pacers are likely to become in him being a long-term contributor for the team.
What should the Pacers do with Jarace Walker?
Walker has been thrown around as a possible trade candidate for Indiana this season. On paper, this wouldn't be a horrible idea, especially if he's included in a package that would land the team a new starting center. But the problem is that his value is incredibly low right now, and any trade would be risky given that he was the eighth overall pick in the NBA draft just two years ago.
The potential is there. He just needs to figure it out.
This season is a lost one for the Pacers anyway. They are 6-23, and barring a miracle, they are not going to be playoff-bound in 2026. At this point, they may as well just give Walker as many opportunities as possible to prove his worth this season.
Walker is far from an untouchable for Indiana, but the team may be better off just keeping him around. It's easy to forget that he's just 22 years old, and the Pacers clearly like him enough to give him this opportunity. His inconsistencies are a problem, and that's what could ultimately be his downfall in Indiana. But as it stands, the team needs to look at him as just another young prospect as he looks to establish himself as a real asset.