The Indiana Pacers may be active in the trade market this season as they look to find a new starting center. And, according to HoopsHype's Michael Scotto, Jarace Walker could be at the top of the list of trade candidates for Indiana.
"Mathurin will pop up [in trade rumors], but I think Jarace Walker's been the big name on the trade market that people will look at in the sense of former high lottery pick and just hasn't seemed to break through with Indiana as he would've liked, and I think, to an extent, the Pacers would say the same thing as well," Scotto said on the "Setting the Pace" podcast.
"So, certainly a guy I would say they're gonna gauge the market on as far as his value. ... That's the main guy I look at."
Should the Pacers trade Jarace Walker?
It's not much of a surprise that Indiana could gauge the trade market for Walker. He was drafted eighth overall in 2023 and has yet to find his footing at the NBA level. There's a lot to like about his game, but his shot and defense are inconsistent, he looks scared a lot of the times, and he can fold under pressure as a decision-maker.
The Pacers got Walker before they traded for Pascal Siakam and Obi Toppin, who most didn't expect to be as valuable as he's become. A big reason for his struggles is due to the inconsistent minutes he got throughout the first two seasons of his career. It's hard to find a groove when you don't have much of an opportunity to. However, this year was supposed to be his opportunity, and it's still shaky.
Through 26 games this season, the Houston alum is averaging 9.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1.9 turnovers while shooting 34.9% from the field and 31.4% from beyond the arc in 25.6 minutes.
These numbers aren't necessarily horrible on their own, but pairing it with the fact that Walker is in the midst of the biggest role of his career, it makes it a bit of a disappointment.
At this point, Indiana really has two options, because Walker is probaly never going to become a consistent starter for the team. Either they can just keep him around and stay patient with him (he is just 22 years old, after all), or they can trade him as soon as this season. Acknowledge that it's never going to work out, give him an opportunity elsewhere, and get some assets in the meantime.
So what should the Pacers do? Obviously, it depends, but to be direct, it is way too soon to give up on Walker, and the team should hold on to him. Either he can work out his kinks, establish a role for himself with the Pacers, and become a serious contributor, or the team can just trade him next season because his value is already shot.
The Pennsylvania native has shown flashes and still has a lot of potential. Just this season, he had a fantastic 21-point performance against the No. 1 seed Detroit Pistons on Nov. 24, when he shot 8-for-10 from the field in 27 minutes. And earlier in December, head coach Rick Carlisle spoke highly of Walker and made it clear how important he is to the team.
"I thought he was terrific tonight," Carlisle said about Walker after the Pacers' victory against the Sacramento Kings on Dec. 8. "I don't think his stats were super gaudy. 12 points, we needed every single one of those points. He had a huge steal in transition. I don't know how he pulls some of that stuff off. He just has amazing hands. Nights like Chicago is feedback for young players. His response in practice yesterday was terrific. I just liked his demeanor, his affect and his tone during the game. We need him."
Walker may never live up to his pre-draft hype, but he can still be a great player for the Pacers. They just need to let it ride and give him his opportunity.