After the Toronto Raptors began exploring trade options for their longtime franchise forward, Pascal Siakam, it quickly became evident that a familiar face from the Eastern Conference—the Indiana Pacers—was interested in acquiring the Cameroonian star.
Before the finalized deal, fans of both the Raptors and the Pacers were eager to see what kind of trade package would be put together to send Siakam to the Hoosier State.
Could Masai Ujiri and his team once again execute the ultimate heist by acquiring one of the Pacers' talented Canadians, such as Bennedict Mathurin or Andrew Nembhard? Or could they target one of the team's older, yet still impactful, forwards like Obi Toppin or Aaron Nesmith?
In addition to these names, it seemed that Toronto was also interested in a recently drafted first-round pick from Indiana: 6-foot-7 forward Jarace Walker. Walker, a promising talent who gained recognition as a five-star recruit, had a successful collegiate campaign with the Houston Cougars.
Selected as the eighth overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, Walker embodied a wealth of raw, untapped potential that generated excitement amongst the Raptors' front office.
Jarace Walker was an enticing trade target for Toronto
Clearly, Indiana shared this perspective by placing significant trust in Walker, selecting him in the lottery, which dampened the Raptors' hopes of acquiring him in a potential Siakam deal.
Additionally, it became clear through former NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski last January that the Indiana Pacers classified Jarace Walker as nearly 'untouchable', reportedly being "very, very determined not to include" him in trade discussions.
The tag certainly seemed justified at the time, as Walker had impressed not only the Indiana Pacers but also a multitude of other teams. Although Walker had not yet secured a consistent role with the playoff-contending Pacers, he made a significant impact in the G League, where he emerged as a dominant force for the Mad Ants.
Almost a year later, during the Raptors' home game against Indiana on December 3, the once 'untouchable' tag for Jarace Walker seems almost laughable in hindsight.
Raptors shut down Jarace Walker
While Indiana displayed some resilience in the later stages of the game, Toronto ultimately generated enough momentum to overcome the Pacers, securing a triumphant 122-111 victory. Upon reviewing the box score for Indiana, Jarace Walker's shortcomings were clearly evident.
The 21-year-old forward played more than 25 minutes against the Toronto Raptors, yet his impact on the court left a lot to be desired. Walker finished the game without scoring, going 0-5 from the field. He also recorded three fouls and three turnovers, resulting in a -7 plus/minus rating.
Don't get it twisted: Jarace Walker is still early in his NBA career and has a long way to go before he becomes a fully polished basketball player. There is definitely room for growth and potential, but even in his second year with the Indiana Pacers, establishing a consistent role for Walker is still a work in progress.
It made perfect sense for Indiana to hold Walker in such high regard, keeping his name in the trade-exempt category; this rationale still seems plausible today. However, the Toronto Raptors managed to devise a game plan that made 'untouchable' Jarace Walker appear expendable.