The Pacers have a logjam on the roster (and why that might be a good thing)

Second unit soldiers: Ben Sheppard, Bennedict Mathurin, and Jarace Walker

Like Jarace Walker, the Pacers' roster was blessed with another rookie who showed promise. The 2nd overall pick of the 2023 NBA Draft stepped up big when his teammate, Mathurin, went down due to a season-ending injury after Hield was shipped to the 76ers.

Sheppard only averaged 4.5 points a game, 1.5 rebounds, and an assist. Once Hield left, Sheppard had a stretch where he scored at least 10 points in four out of six contests.

He only scored in double-digits once in the playoffs. That occurrence came during Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the New York Knicks. The rookie guard logged about 14 minutes a game during the regular season and saw his playing time increase during the postseason to about 19 minutes per game.

Mathurin has a career average of close to 16 points a game. His three-point percentage and assists per game average also increased last year from his first season in the NBA.

The Pacers' lottery pick of the 2022 NBA Draft still has more to offer and can help the Pacers return to the playoffs for another deep run. With young guns like Sheppard, Mathurin and more, Indiana's second unit was the highest-scoring and most efficient offensively in the NBA last year.

At 6’7’’ and 235 pounds, Walker showed some versatility for the Pacers despite only playing 33 games during the regular season. He did appear in nine playoff games for Indiana, though.

Walker averaged 3.5 points and almost two rebounds a game while usually playing 10 minutes a game. The Pacers boast such a deep lineup that the former University of Houston Cougar gets buried on the depth chart after Siakam, Toppin, Turner, and Nesmith.

However, the 2023 first-round pick for Indiana shined during the month of July for the Pacers during the Summer League. Walker impressed the Pacers’ organization by averaging 18 points, nearly seven rebounds and five assists a game. He was given more playing time in the Summer League by averaging just shy of 34 minutes a contest.

While shooting more than 42% from the field, Walker’s range from deep was on display as he connected on close to 46% of his attempts from behind the three-point arc. He played great alongside Johnny Furphy, Quenton Jackson, and company.

Walker also displayed some defensive prowess. During the five Summer League games, the former rookie averaged a steal and a block per game. In the 31 minutes he took the court for the Pacers during the postseason, Walker registered eight points, four boards, four assists, two steals, and a block.

As we have seen the injury bug bite the Pacers’ roster before, Walker being on the depth chart gives Carlisle another option to plug in at either forward position should his name and number need to be called. Expect an increase in minutes and production from Walker as he enters his second season for Indiana.

An athletic, hungry and now experienced roster can accomplish even more in the season to come.