Jarace Walker keeps flashing the kind of talent that makes you lean in, then reminding everyone why the Pacers are still waiting for it to all click.
That’s been the story with the 6-foot-6 forward out of Houston: one possession he looks like a player with real upside, the next he’s giving the ball away or settling when he should be finishing with authority. The inconsistency is the problem.
The tools are obvious. The complete package just hasn’t shown up yet.
And for Indiana, the timing matters.
The Pacers are 3-6 and Tyrese Haliburton is sidelined, which puts more pressure on the rest of the roster to hold things together. Walker, now in year four, has a chance to matter more than ever. He’s averaging 7.2 points and 6.3 rebounds per game, and while the rebounding stands out as a clear step forward, the scoring numbers tell a tougher story.
His shooting has been rough across the board. Walker is at a career-low 36.9% from the field, 31.3% from three-point range and 53.8% at the free throw line.
Kyle Taylor of iPacers said on Setting the Pace that Walker ranks 136th out of 140 eligible players for field goal percentage in the restricted area at 47%. That lines up with the eye test: he isn’t naturally playing with the kind of force the Pacers want from him.
Still, there are enough moments to keep the door open. In 45 minutes against the Atlanta Hawks, Walker put up 15 points on 6-of-15 shooting and went 1-of-6 from deep.
He’s also shown he can help on the glass and make the occasional pass that jumps off the screen. Those are the traits Indiana has been betting on.
The win over Memphis offered a better version of what Walker can be. Rick Carlisle trusted him to stay on the floor for the entire fourth quarter because he was making a physical impact, especially on the boards. That’s the kind of outing he needs more often.
The Pacers see the path. The question is whether Walker can finally stay on it. With the trade deadline approaching, this stretch could decide whether he becomes part of Indiana’s future or whether this is the moment the team starts moving on.
In Other News...
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The Noblesville Boom are about to open their season, and for the Pacers, that means more than just a G League schedule getting underway. With injury issues already testing Indianas depth, the affiliate in Noblesville is becoming an even more important part of the organizations day-to-day planning, especially for players on two-way deals who may bounce between the two rosters all year.
Jalen Slawson, Kobe Brown and Braden Smith are among the names expected to spend most of their time with the Boom while still making occasional appearances for Indiana. For a Pacers team trying to stay afloat now while also building for what comes next, the G League program is no longer just a developmental side note. It is becoming a real pipeline, and what happens in Noblesville could matter more than fans might realize. [Read more 🡒]
Aaron Nesmith Is Becoming Crucial To Pacers Again
Aaron Nesmith is starting to look like one of the Pacers most important pieces again, and that matters for a team that leans on spacing, pace and versatility. Known for his shooting and defense, he has long fit the mold of the modern role player Indiana needs around its core, and his recent clutch three-pointer in a win over Memphis was another reminder of how quickly he can swing a game without dominating the ball.
The bigger question has been whether he can keep building on that after working back from a hamstring injury. For Indiana, having Nesmith available and effective changes the way the rotation functions on both ends, especially when the margins get tight and every reliable wing matters. [Read more 🡒]