The NBA Draft is only two weeks away and draft workouts and speculations regarding who the Washington Wizards are going to pick are in full swing. With a brand-new front office, it is hard to tell what the Wizards are going to prioritize with their no. 8 pick. Nevertheless, the Wizards need an injection of athleticism and high-end talent. If Jarace Walker falls to no. 8, he would be a great building block to jump-start the Wizards’ rebuild.
Jarace Walker is a versatile forward who could reliably play and guard 3 through 5. Even though his natural position is the power forward, his impressive size and mobility could help him play small ball center, as well as defend in the perimeter.
Walker has the upside to be an elite defender
Walker’s calling card is certainly his defense. His 6’8 frame with a 7’2 wingspan, combined with his outstanding strength, makes him one of the highest-upside defenders in the draft class. He has quick feet and mobility for his size, helping him stay in front of smaller players. He has good defensive instincts and is willing to get involved in help defense, averaging 1.3 blocks and 1 steal a game. He is a very good rebounder for his size and is not afraid to use his body to push opposing big men around.
However, Walker should not be pigeonholed as a defensive specialist. He has the potential to be a solid two-way player. He is a good driver with the ability to go both directions using either hand. He can finish inside the paint with a variety of floaters, runners, and layups.
Thanks to Walker’s strength and agility, he is a potential matchup nightmare. If you defend him with a bigger defender, he can blow by him using his quickness. If you defend him with a smaller defender, he has so much power that he can easily bully his way to the rim. If you sag off him, he has an advanced mid-range game. He also improved his three-point shooting, hitting a respectable 35% from downtown as a freshman in Houston.
The Washington Wizards should be thrilled if Walker falls to no.8
The swing skill for Jarace is certainly the shooting. His shooting form is not the prettiest, but it is relatively effective. If he can get his 35% from three and 66% from the charity stripe closer to 38% and 75% respectively, he will unlock his offense and take his game to the next level.
His handle is not as tight, and his passing is not as accurate as you would like from your primary creator, but they are also not bad for a player of this type. He looks the part of a solid secondary creator with the potential to be more.
In most mock drafts, Jarace Walker is projected to be drafted before the Wizards pick. However, in the slight chance that Walker somehow falls in the draft, he could be a high-upside pick that the Wizards will be thrilled about.