The template is Dream Chaser Green! The opportunity for the No. 8 pick in the first round of 2023 has arrived

In the 25-26 season, Haliburton was reimbursed for the season and Myles Turner left the team, so there were many opportunities within the Pacers.

Nembhad? Marceline? Nesmith? Isaiah Jackson? Khufu? Jareth Walker, who will be the biggest beneficiary?

This post will discuss the possibility of Jareth Walker growing.

As the No. 8 pick in the first round of 2023, Jareth Walker has high hopes.

He is 2.03 meters tall, has a wingspan of 2.20 meters, and has excellent static talent.

In the 24-25 season, Walker's second season, he played 75 games in the regular season, averaging 15.8 minutes per game. He was already a normal rotation player, scoring 6.1 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.5 assists, and his three-point shooting rate was 40.5%.

In this year's preseason, Walker averaged 25.2 minutes of playing time per game, 11.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.3 steals. He showed a certain talent in organizing offense.

However, the field goal percentage was only 40.6% and the three-point shooting percentage was 29.4%.

Walker's advantages:

1. He has three-point shooting

Walker's three-point shooting rate has exceeded 40% for two consecutive seasons. Although his output is average, it is still relatively stable. His shooting mechanism is very good, so he has the ability to shoot three-pointers.

2. Breakthrough with the ball

Walker is a small forward, and his speed is not slow. He can initiate breakthroughs from beyond the three-point line, and the basket He has certain finishing ability, and he can also distribute the ball well during the breakthrough process.

3. Rebounding ability

Walker's ability to compete for offensive rebounds is average, but his ability to protect backcourt rebounds is good, and he can also launch a counterattack after grabbing backcourt rebounds. He gets the ball very quickly, and he can also dribble the ball through half the court to launch a counterattack.

4. Ability to pass

The Pacers intend to practice Walker's support ability. He often responds at the top of the arc and lets him deal the cards.

Walker's shortcomings

1. Passing is easy to make mistakes

Walker's passing awareness is very good, but the passing skills currently displayed need to be polished, and there are too many passing mistakes.

2. Average finishing ability

Walker's dynamic and static talents are outstanding, but his finishing ability at the basket is very average. He is often cut or blocked by his opponents after breaking through.

During his college years, Walker averaged 27.6 minutes per game, 11.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1 steal, and 1.3 blocks. His NBA template for defensive support is Draymond Green, and his template for all-around skills is Paul Millsap.

In Walker's third year with the Pacers, his playing time will increase and his role will increase. Whether he can handle it depends on him staying healthy, defending well, and making sure to reduce unnecessary mistakes when passing the ball (in the preseason, he averaged 3.7 assists per game and had 3 turnovers).

The No. 8 pick in the first round is very important to the Pacers. Judging from the performance in the preseason, the Pacers still have a great chance of cultivating Walker. His draft template, Dream Chaser Green, is such a forward who is good at dealing cards at the top of the arc. Perhaps the defense is not up to Green's level, but in terms of organization and support, Walker still has some potential.

Haliburton is out for a season, and the ball rights will be distributed. Walker has a certain chance to share some of the ball rights. What he needs is to seize this fleeting opportunity. First use defense and three-pointers to keep yourself on the court more, and then give him more tactics to deal with cards. Whether he can play well or not will be a watershed this season.