Report: Some within NBA curious if Indiana Pacers would 'part with' rookie forward Jarace Walker

Walker was the eighth overall pick in 2023

According to a report from HoopsHype late last month, some people around the NBA are wondering about the Indiana Pacers attachment to 2023 lottery pick Jarace Walker.

"Meanwhile, the Pacers had continued to express interest in both [OG] Anunoby and [Pascal] Siakam before Anunoby was traded to New York," the first part of the report, written by Michael Scotto just after Anunoby was traded to the Kncks, reads. "Indiana's Jarace Walker, the No. 8 pick of the draft, seemingly fits the mold of a young controllable asset with upside that Toronto likes and his lack of frontcourt rotational minutes has some around the league wondering if Indiana would part with him." Since this report, the blue and gold acquired Siakam in a trade and did not include Walker in the deal.

Instead, Indiana included three first-round draft picks instead of any of their young talents. Jordan Nwora (25 years old) and Bruce Brown (27) were the two players that were sent from the Pacers to the Toronto Raptors.

Around the time of the report's publishing, Walker had just finished up a stint with the G League's Indiana Mad Ants during the G League Showcase Cup. He performed well at the event, guiding the Mad Ants to the title game and being named to the All-Showcase team.

The smaller amount of NBA playing for Walker referenced in HoopsHype's report is more due to Indiana's young depth than Walker's play. Jalen Smith, Obi Toppin, and Aaron Nesmith have absorbed most of the power forward minutes for the blue and gold so far this season (Siakam will join that group), and those three players are all young and talented. Isaiah Jackson and Myles Turner round out the Pacers frontcourt rotation. There just hasn't been room for Walker in that crowded group.

As a result, Walker has more playing time in the G League than the NBA this season. The number eight overall pick has appeared in 15 NBA games with 165 total minutes — in 10 outings with the Mad Ants, Walker has 338 minutes.

The rookie four man is averaging 4.9 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game in the pros. He showed important growth in late December and had three productive outings on the Pacers recent road trip.

"He's doing really good stuff. The minutes that he's earned for us, he's earned," Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said of Walker around Christmas.

From a trade perspective, Walker seems like he would have a decent amount of value as a recent lottery pick that was desired by multiple teams. Indiana doesn't make selections in the single-digits often — they have done it just twice since 1989. It stands to reason that the franchise would either try to develop their high-potential selections or save them for significant trades.

Marc Stein reported that Indiana could be thinking that way regarding Walker and Bennedict Mathurin, who was selected sixth overall by the Pacers in 2022. "Yet it's believed that the Pacers, while undeniably active, are reluctant to part with two of their most promising (and pursued) players if they can avoid it: Bennedict Mathurin and rookie Jarace Walker," Stein shared in his The Stein Line newsletter.

More pick-and-roll reps for Jarace Walker as the ball handler on the Pacers road trip. Clipped some possessions when he passed. Not sure how often that will happen with Haliburton + Siakam in the lineup, but can see the improvements in patience compared to early season/preseason. pic.twitter.com/zhl6iAYeUt

— Tony East (@TonyREast) January 22, 2024

Adrian Wojnarowski, ESPN's Senior NBA insider, said something similar while doing a question-and-answer session on Threads. "I think the Pacers are very, very determined to NOT include Jarace Walker in any trade. Indiana is very high on him, as are other teams, of course," Wojnarowski detailed.

Opposing franchises are smart to wonder if the Pacers would be willing to part with Walker given his lower playing time compared to most lottery picks. But the context of Indiana's team this year, and for decades beforehand, suggests that the 2023 top-10 selection isn't for sale and would instead only be moved in a significant trade.

The NBA Trade Deadline is on February 8.

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• Pascal Siakam debuted and Tyrese Haliburton returned, but the Indiana Pacers epic night was spoiled. CLICK HERE.
• Report: Pacers assembling potential trade packages around Buddy Hield and future first-round draft pick. CLICK HERE.
• James Johnson is back with the Indiana Pacers on a 10-day contract. CLICK HERE.
• The Pacers came up just short against the Phoenix Suns to end their road trip. CLICK HERE.
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