Ja’Kobe Walter took a massive leap in his second season with the Raptors. He scored more efficiently, raising his 3-point percentage from 34.9% to 40.9% on essentially the same volume, and played his way into the Raptors’ playoff rotation with a late-season surge.
Walter shot 47.6% from three post All-Star break. That accuracy dropped significantly in the playoffs when he only averaged 32.7% shooting over seven games. Considering that it was Walter’s first playoff experience and he was pushed into a much bigger role than expected—he started five games after coming off the bench for most of his young career—that drop off isn’t overly surprising. His 3-point shooting improved as the series went on. Walter shot 13-30 in the last three games compared to 4-22 in the first four games of the series.
Still, one question remains: Can he be a 40% 3-point shooter over the course of a full regular season?
It would be a game-changer for the Raptors, if the answer is yes
The Raptors lack 3-point shooting. That’s no secret. They shot 35.4% on 32.1 attempts per game in the regular season. Both ranked in the bottom ten across the league. In the playoffs, their volume dropped to 29.7 attempts per game, but the accuracy stayed roughly the same at 35.6%.
3-point shooting is undoubtedly something the Raptors will try to address with new additions in the offseason, but a big part of it will also have to come through internal improvements. With Gradey Dick potentially headed to a new team in an offseason trade, Walter is the closest thing to a 3-point specialist the Raptors currently have on the roster—if he can keep up his efficient shooting from the second half of the season.
If he can, the opportunities for Walter with this Raptors team could be endless. At 6’4”, he fits their preference for lengthy wings, and he played great defense this season. The Raptors even trusted him to guard Donovan Mitchell and James Harden in the playoffs, which isn’t usually a task you would want to give to a second-year player who just earned a big role a few months ago.
He could be their go-to 3-and-D wing if he can be an efficient 3-point shooter for a full season—and if he isn’t included in an offseason trade for a star. After his breakout second half, the Raptors would undoubtedly love to hold on to Walter, but, depending on the trade, having to move on from him shouldn’t be a deal breaker.
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