NBA Draft: While No Headline-Grabber, Jarace Walker Will Help You Win
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The headlines in this year's draft will go to Victor Wembanyama, Scoot Henderson, and possibly Brandon Miller.
The Thompson twins will surely attract some attention too, given their athleticism, court vision and easy-on-the-eyes playing styles.
Jarace Walker is not going to be headlining any major stories. Nor is he going to draw in million of views on social media by putting up 30 points on the regular.
Instead, Walker is all about effectiveness. Whether that's offering up enough defensive versatility to completely change the course of a game, or by reading the floor like a guard, and sending off bullet passes to cutting big men, Walker is right there for all of it.
Standing just 6-foot-6.5 without shoes, Walker isn't your traditional big man, yet he plays like he's significant taller. Walker's ability to guard players one-on-one is mesmerizing. He'll pick up a guy at the perimeter, dance with him for 10-12 seconds, and eventually swat the living hell out of the shot. For whatever reason, opponents kept going at Walker in isolation throughout most of the year, and not with good results.
What Walker lacks in raw height he makes up for in several other categories. His 250-pounds playing weight prevents guys from bumping him off of them, and his quick feet makes it near impossible to get a step on him. Walker's wingspan of 7-foot-2.5 also helps dramatically, as it allows him to take away driving and passing lanes, forcing opposing ball-handlers to seek other avenues while the clock bleeds precious seconds.
But the most intriguing aspect of Walker is his patience, which is tied together with his high IQ on the floor. He'll bide his time, knowing when to strike, and how. He'll let offensive players put themselves into suboptimal situations, and exploit them when the opportunity rises, instead of panicking early in the clock, and using all of his energy to assert himself. He just plays smart basketball that way, and conserves energy by just hanging around long enough to make his move.
That story repeats itself offensively, where he's got a knack for making the right reads, at the right time. He'll draw in defenses, and find open passing angles, almost like he's on autopilot. It often looks like he's not even thinking out there - in the good way - and is just reacting off elite instincts.
Granted, he's not going to ever become some major on-ball creator. At best, we're looking at a guy who'll spot up from the outside, dive to the rim, and operate well in the short-roll. That's not a bad end result, and he should be able to effectively net 15 points at the NBA level through that recipe, while making the right reads, and constantly be a high-impact defender.
Player comps can be a cheap cop-out, but the idea that Walker could become the next Paul Millsap isn't a bad one. You can definitely see some similar DNA strains in their play.
So what team makes the most sense for Walker?
If he's still available by then, Dallas at #10 would be a tremendous spot for him. They need, well, everything. And Walker offers a variety of skills they currently lack up front. Having a guy who can help space the floor, dive to the cup, improve the defense, and play off creators (here Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving) is exactly what the Mavericks are looking for. In fact, I wouldn't be opposed if Dallas traded up for Walker, as he projects as a long-term solution for that team, and a player who might help convince Dončić to hang around.
Unless noted otherwise, all stats via NBA.com, PBPStats, Cleaning the Glass or Basketball-Reference. All salary information via Spotrac. All odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook.
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