A lot of people viewed Jarace Walker as a trade candidate this season, and it was easy to see why. His first two seasons with the Indiana Pacers were rough, and earlier this season, the jury was still out on whether he was a capable NBA player or not. He had some great moments, but he also had a ton of terrible ones (i.e., a six-turnover game against the Golden State Warriors and a 0-for-10 shooting night against the Phoenix Suns).
For some, it seemed like the right call for Indiana to trade him while he still had some value from a potential standpoint and just move on.
Fortunately for the Pacers, they stuck it out with the Houston alum and kept him past the trade deadline. And so far, they have been rewarded for their decision.
Jarace Walker has been fantastic since Christmas
In 24 games since last Christmas, Walker has averaged 12.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1 steal while shooting 48.6% from the field and 46.4% from beyond the arc. And in two games since the trade deadline (small sample size, I know, but it's still something), he averaged 18 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1 steal while shooting 40.6% from the field and 36.4% from deep.
Additionally, he led the Pacers (who were without just about everybody of note) to a 115-110 victory against the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday, scoring a game-high 23 points on 9-for-18 shooting.
Walker also looks way more comfortable and decisive on both sides of the ball, and it seems like he is finally settling into his role. And given that he's still just 22 years old, there are reasons to be excited about where he can develop from here.
Even if he never lives up to his pre-draft hype (which he still could at this rate), it's clear that Walker has a lot of talent and provides a ton of value to the Pacers. They were right to hang onto him, and with Bennedict Mathurin no longer on the roster, the opportunities will likely continue to keep coming.
The Houston alum is a jack-of-all-trades type. He can do a bit of everything. He can shoot, score, rebound, defend, handle the ball, and play all five positions. Furthermore, he is a physical force who seems to finally be learning how to use that to his advantage. If what he has shown in recent games is any indication, then he should be a fantastic contributor for years to come.
And the Pacers couldn't be more excited.