How Jarace Walker can help the Indiana Pacers
Jarace Walker was the Indiana Pacers first selection in the 2023 NBA Draft, being taken at eighth overall. The rookie forward is a defensive-focused force, but he has a variety of skills that make his game unique. They all contributed to the Pacers' affinity for Walker in the draft.
"In a league where defensive versatility, the ability to switch and contain, is so important, we believe he can do that," Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said of Walker. Indiana has lacked depth at the power forward spot for years.
Walker can help fill that hole. He's big, bruising, and smart. That combination lets him blow up plays, distribute, and hold his own in any matchup during the course of a game. He's a unique four man.
He should be able to help the Pacers in many ways this coming season. His defense, in particular, will boost the blue and gold. That was obvious during Summer League play, when Walker finished with five steals (which tied for the most on the team) and five blocks (second).
His defensive playmaking is something that he should be able to do fairly early in the NBA with his build and speed. "He can really move his feet. Protecting the rim some. Really versatile guy," Indiana assistant coach Jannero Pargo said of Walker's defense.
That defensive skill was clear in college. Walker's +3.6 defensive box plus-minus, per Bart Torvik, ranked sixth among freshmen last season. Indiana's new lottery pick is a great defensive prospect and should be able to give the blue and gold a nearly immediate boost on the less glamorous end of the court.
"I feel like just what I bring to the table is exactly what this team was missing, that extra defender, extra rebounder, extra playmaker, shot creator," Walker said after the draft. "Just somebody that brings a little bit of everything to the table."
On offense, Walker's game is varied. That can be an appeal or a weakness, depending on how he develops.
Prior to college, he played many different positions. In high school at IMG Academy, Walker spent some seasons acting as a lead ball handler and others playing center. Doing so made his skill set more well-rounded than other youngsters.
"I think Jarace understands that 'I'm a great defender, I'm a great rebounder. My offensive game is still evolving, but I'm a good enough player.' And he buys into that," Brian Nash, the Director Of Basketball at IMG Academy, told AllPacers about Walker.
The experience Walker got at multiple positions enhanced his playmaking and IQ. With the ball, he is capable of making smart yet effective reads, though he likely won't be asked to do so much early in his time with the pros. He had a solid assist rate in his only season at Houston.
Synergy Sports play type data can help illustrate how effective Walker was as a playmaker, especially in the pick-and-roll. When looking at pick-and-roll situations in which Walker was the ball handler and then took a shot, he was in the 26th percentile among all college players. When factoring in all of his pick-and-roll ball handling reps, including passes, that number jumped up to the 54th percentile. Passing significantly boosted his effectiveness as a shot creator.
In transition, Walker's IQ shines through. He can push with or without the ball, and he takes space well. That is a theme for many of the Pacers acquisitions this offseason, they can all enhance the offense in the open floor. That's where Indiana shines, especially with Tyrese Haliburton.
In the halfcourt, Walker won't have the ball as much in the NBA as he did in college. At least not right away. Thankfully for the blue and gold, he did well in many off-ball play types with the Cougars.
According to Synergy Sports, Walker graded out with an above average percentile when posting up, rolling after setting a screen, and spotting up. Those skills are all things Walker can do without the ball, and he can grow his game out from there with the Pacers.
"He's great. I think he does a little bit of everything," Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard described of Walker. They overlapped on the court during Summer League.
The rookie forward was also an excellent cutter during his lone NCAA season, shooting 73.2% on shots generated off of cuts, per Synergy Sports. Indiana's offense contains some controlled chaos, so Walker should be able to find crevices as a cutter.
As shown in Summer League, where the 19-year old did a little bit of everything besides knock down shots, it is difficult to put Walker's contributions into a box. He is everywhere, all at once. Being accurate will be important for the rookie in the NBA because he is capable of doing almost everything else. There isn't a role he will be completely miscast in.
"He's different. His presence is unbelievable. His wingspan is great. Like I said, I love his energy," Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin, the team's lottery pick in 2022, said of Walker.
The eighth overall pick could start or come off the bench. His off ball skills will look better next to All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton, but his developing ability to create shots may make more sense with the second unit. He could start or come off the bench, and both decisions would make sense.
That's part of Walker's general appeal now and in the future. He can do a little bit of everything, and he can do it on both ends. His efficiency will be worth monitoring, but he could help the Indiana Pacers in many ways going forward.
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