Jarace Walker has been a big disappointment with the Indiana Pacers this season. And at this rate, a trade could be inevitable.
In a recent episode of the "Setting the Pace" podcast, Alex Golden speculated that the Pacers trading Walker this season is "more of a matter of when, not if."
"It's frustrating because you constantly have to go through and just talk about all these different players that are getting minutes above him. And why does that continue to be the problem? Because he just doesn't understand what it takes to actually win at a high level in this league," Golden said.
"He's watching Johnny Furphy and Ethan Thompson and Garrison Mathews and guys that really shouldn't be in the rotation getting minutes over him. ... Unfortunately, it just seems more of a matter of when, not if [Walker gets traded]."
Should the Pacers trade Jarace Walker?
The Houston alum didn't get consistent playing time throughout his first two seasons in the league, but when he did play, he showed some potential. This was even the case to begin this season.
However, Walker is leaving a lot to be desired on the court, and outside of some solid stretches, he mostly doesn't look like he can be a true asset for the Pacers.
Through 32 games this season (including 12 starts), Walker has averaged 8.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.8 turnovers while shooting 33.7% from the field and 30.6% from beyond the arc. Additionally, his defense is still very inconsistent, and he still has plenty of moments where he looks indecisive, which is typically a sign of lacking confidence.
In theory, there is a lot to like about Walker. He is someone who can play and guard every position, and at 6-foot-7, 235 pounds, he should be able to create some advantages for the Pacers as a physical brute. Unfortunately for him and the team, his inconsistencies are still on full display, and the cons are outweighing the pros.
At this point, it's safe to assume that the Pennsylvania native will never live up to his pre-draft hype, when he went eighth overall in 2023. But beyond that, there's genuine concern that he just might never develop into an NBA-caliber player. He's shown flashes, but they are so few and far between at this point that it ultimately might not even matter.
On the flip side, Walker is still just 22 years old. He is the second-youngest player on the roster, and this is essentially his first full season with consistent opportunities. It's hard to disagree that he's playing incredibly poorly, but it also might be too soon for the Pacers to give up on him.
So what should they do?
There are pros and cons to trading Walker. But at the end of the day, it does seem like a very possible scenario this season. Reports have already surfaced suggesting that the Pacers are looking to acquire their next center of the future. In order for them to do so, it would almost certainly have to require including Walker in the deal because of his contract and potential upside.
It might be too soon for Indiana to give up on him, but if doing so gives the team the center they need, then it would be hard to call this the wrong move. They're giving Walker his opportunity. He's just not doing much with it.