Mavs Draft Profile: Houston's Jarace Walker Speaks on Potential Fit in Dallas

With defensive upgrades being a huge focus for the Dallas Mavericks this offseason, does Jarace Walker make sense at the No. 10 pick?

The Dallas Mavericks are weeks away from answering many questions regarding their roster this offseason. How do they plan to upgrade their roster for a hopeful playoff run next season? It starts with improved defense. 

In exit interviews following the end of the regular season, Mavs GM Nico Harrison preached the importance of upgrading both rebounding and defense this summer as Dallas ranked at or near the bottom in both categories throughout the year.

If defense is truly the one of the biggest necessities for the Mavs this offseason, why not select Houston's Jarace Walker with the No. 10 pick? That is, assuming he’ll still be available by then.

In 36 games as a freshman, Walker averaged 11.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.0 steals, and 1.3 blocks while shooting just under 35 percent from 3-point range in 28 minutes per game for the Cougars. 

Offensively, Walker is pretty well-rounded across the board. His physical gifts and brute strength make him a problem to stop when driving to the basket or finishing around the rim. His playmaking ability is impressive for his size as Walker seems to always make the right play with an above average feel for the game.

As for his outside shooting, Walker isn't necessarily a marksman from 3-point range, but with time, and being in an offense with Luka Doncic creating open looks, he should be able to become a quality shooter from deep. 

Now, as a defender, that is where Walker's impact is really felt. His linebacker-like stature and length, which gives him the ability to switch 1-5, combine for the perfect body for a versatile defensive weapon in today's NBA. Houston's coach Kelvin Sampson also used Walker as a free safety off the ball, being able to use his great instincts flying to the ball and defending the rim on the backside.

With the departure of Dorian Finney-Smith in the Kyrie Irving trade and both Reggie Bullock and Maxi Kleber showing some signs of aging this past season, Walker would immediately have an impact on Dallas' defense despite being only 19 years old.

"I feel like it could be nice," Walker told Dallas Morning News about his potential fit next to Doncic in Dallas. "I feel like I could fit almost anywhere just because of the versatility I bring, especially on the defensive end. Being able to knock down shots and being that extra perimeter defender they need, I feel like my role there could be effective.”

For Walker, he already has something in common with the Mavericks superstar, as he and Doncic share Bill Duffy as an agent. So the continuity and relationship is already set up to be smooth between the two sides.

If the Mavericks decide to draft a player for themselves at No. 10 instead of trading the pick, and he's still on the board, there‘s a strong possibility that Walker takes a quick trip down Interstate 45 to his new home in Dallas.

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