Last year, the Indiana Pacers acquired the draft rights to Jarace Walker during the 2023 NBA Draft from the Washington Wizards, who the team selected with the No. 8 pick. However, despite being a top player in the draft class, the Houston alum had a very disappointing rookie season in the NBA.
In 33 games last season, Walker averaged 3.6 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in 10.3 minutes per game. This was a small sample size. Additionally, his defense was underwhelming his rookie year, especially considering how much defensive potential he showed heading into last year's draft.
However, despite a disappointing rookie season, Walker has a lot of potential and showcased it during this year's Summer League. In four games during the showcase, Walker averaged 18 points, 7.3 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block per game.
While his defense still left much to be desired on the court, it is clear that Walker improved during the Summer League and looked comfortable.
Additionally, he shot 42.6% from the field and 45.8% from beyond the arc. His impressive shooting performance from the Summer League must carry over into his sophomore season in the NBA if he wants to become a regular contributor to the team.
Jarace Walker's shooting in the Summer League is his key to becoming an important player for the Pacers in Year 2
It is unclear how much playing time is in line for Walker next season. Regardless of whether the Pacers play him at small forward or power forward, there are quite a few players in his way on the team's depth chart. This includes starters like Pascal Siakam and Aaron Nesmith, as well as players like Bennedict Mathurin and Obi Toppin, who figure to be key role players for the team next season.
However, with how well he played in Summer League, it would not be a shock for the Pacers to give him a legitimate role off the bench.
Walker is far from a perfect player, but if his Summer League performance is any indication, he possesses a lot of tools that can make him an essential part of Indiana's run as a contender.