Mavs Mock Draft: 'Wrecking Ball' Jarace Walker to Dallas?
It isn't everyday that an NBA prospect with a "football player's frame" makes his way into the top 10 of the draft boards.
Standing at 6-8, 240 pounds, Houston's Jarace Walker set himself apart in just one season with the Cougars, and luckily for the Dallas Mavericks, the forward displays a high level of versatility on the floor, and confidence off of it.
All in all, both traits make him a strong target for coach Jason Kidd and the Mavs come June.
"I'm a great playmaker," Walker said. "I get my teammates involved, knock down shots, and defensively, I guard multiple positions ... I definitely [feel] ready to make an immediate impact."
The Ringer has Walker heading to Dallas with the No. 10 overall pick — which it got to keep from its deal with the New York Knicks — writing that the forward has the high upside the Mavs are looking for next season
“Walker has a basketball player’s height and a football player’s sturdy frame, and he matches his impressive physical dimensions with an insatiable appetite for getting stops. ... [He is] a versatile wrecking ball on defense and skilled playmaker on offense,” Kevin O’Conner wrote.
“[He's a] competitive defender with the physical tools to thrive in a switching scheme. He has the lateral quickness and motor to compete against guards and wings and the strength and length to battle bigs.”
Last season, Walker averaged 11.2 points and 6.8 rebounds for the Cougars, and he played a big role in helping his team earn one of the top seeds in the NCAA tournament.
His length and wingspan are both other aspects that set his game apart, which showed during the NBA Draft Combine when Walker finished 8th among all participants with a 38-inch vertical jump.
Analysts have compared the former Houston forward to the likes of Larry Johnson and Paul Millsap, but if you ask Walker, he's neither of those players.
"I feel like I take bits and pieces from multiple people and make myself my own unique player," Walker said. "There's a lot of people you can compare me to, but at the same time I think I'm my own player because of the versatility I bring to the game."
"There's nothing on the floor I can't do," he added. "Any position I could see myself thriving in."
The last statement could be a true asset to any NBA team if it holds up. And for the Mavs, who may be preparing to lose Christian Wood, Kyrie Irving, or even both, Walker would provide a much-needed burst of youth to go alongside Luka Doncic.
That's not to say there aren't concerns regarding the 19-year-old. As The Ringer wrote, Walker has yet to prove himself as a shooter.
“Despite his improved form, he’s still an unproven 3-point shooter who has yet to show sustained success from NBA range. He’s also a subpar free throw shooter, which raises concerns about his overall shooting potential,” O’Conner wrote.
Should the Mavs look past his shooting struggles, which would likely to become a focus if he is their pick, Walker would still be a powerful athlete with the potential to become a star in the league.
Dallas fans will just have to wait and see if that's the case. In the meantime, they can listen to our recent episode of the Mavs Step Back Podcast, where the Jarace Walker discussion is continued.
The NBA Draft will be held on Thursday, June 22 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn beginning at 7 p.m.
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