Jarace Walker's third season with the Indiana Pacers has been a massive disappointment so far.
In 14 games, including nine starts, Walker is averaging 10 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2.3 turnovers. Additionally, he has been shooting 29.8% from the field and 26.4% from beyond the arc.
This was supposed to be Walker's breakout season. After two seasons of inconsistent minutes and mostly playing a limited role, the Houston alum was finally about to have his chance. With Tyrese Haliburton out and Myles Turner gone, the Pacers were going to rely much more heavily on their young guys to see what they can become. And maybe, if all goes right, they can solidify themselves as a long-time contributor on a Pacers team looking to re-enter the title picture.
Walker has had his chances, and he hasn't looked good. Not only has he not been disappointing, but he's looking like one of the worst players in the NBA.
And his days in Indiana may be numbered.
The Pacers could trade Jarace Walker this season
Walker's disappointing performance this season is upsetting for so many reasons. But perhaps the most important one is that everybody knows he's better than this. There's a reason he was the No. 8 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, and there's a reason fans wanted to see him take on a bigger role in the last two years.
On paper, the Pennsylvania native is a solid do-it-all player who can take the pressure off everybody else on the team in every area. He is a physical player who possesses great size at 6-foot-7, 235 pounds. This size allows him to play both forward positions and even a little bit of small-ball center. But because he is also very mobile and athletic, he could also play both guard positions.
Walker has also shown flashes of being a good shooter, shooting 40.4% from deep on 2.2 attempts per game in his first two seasons. He can also be a solid shot-creator and ball-handler.
However, the idea of Walker is looking much better than the reality of him. Right now, he looks like a mess in every single area. He plays with effort, and he will be quick to apply pressure defensively and help switch or double-team. However, he also looks extremely scared and hesitant on both sides of the ball. His shot also hasn't been falling, he looks lost defensively way too often, and he folds under pressure, particularly as a decision-maker.
All of this leads to sloppy plays, turnovers, and just overall ugly basketball.
It's tough to know exactly what's going on with Walker. Maybe his game just can't translate to the NBA. Or maybe he still needs time to develop since he is still just 22 years old. But perhaps the most likely reason is that his confidence is shot.
Let's not forget that Walker entered the league as one of the best prospects in the same draft class that had Victor Wembanyama and spent two seasons on the bench. This was largely because of a logjam at both forward positions (which only got worse after the team acquired Pascal Siakam in January 2024) and Rick Carlisle's strategy of never really playing rookies too often. And now, he's being tasked with doing absolutely everything. And he's failing.
It's still too early to give up on Walker, and once the game slows down for him, he should have a chance to bounce back. But at the same time, he may never reach his potential in Indiana.
For Walker and the team's sake, trading him might be the right move in order to give him a change of scenery and a fresh start somewhere else.