While all eyes will be on Victor Wembanyama when the 2023 NBA Draft comes around, the Detroit Pistons must prepare for the worst. Despite having the worst record in the league, the top pick in the draft is far from guaranteed. While Scoot Henderson and Brandon Miller are likely to go second and third in the draft, what about if the Pistons fall to fourth or fifth?
Detroit Pistons draft: Jarace Walker is an intriguing prospect
Jarace Walker is a 19-year-old, 6-foot-8 power forward from the University of Houston. In his freshman season in college, Walker averaged 27.6 minutes, putting up 11.2 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game. Walker also averaged a block and a steal a game as well. In terms of shooting percentages, Walker shot 46.5 percent from the field and 34.7 percent from three.
(Houston) Jarace Walker
— College Basketball Report (@CBKReport) April 23, 2023
(247c) 5⭐️ ranked as the 11th best player in his classpic.twitter.com/IjHkTma44j
• Averaged 11/6/1 while shooting 46% from the floor
• 22-23 AAC ROTY
• 22-23 All-AAC 2nd team
• 6th in total rebounds in the AAC (245)
• 5 20+ point games this season…
What Jarace Walker could bring to the Detroit Pistons
While the Detroit Pistons have many young big men on their roster like James Wiseman and Jalen Duren, you hope Jarace Walker would be able to share the floor with those players. The big question for Jarace Walker will be his three-point shooting as that is what the Pistons will need around Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey.
The ideal scenario for Jarace Walker on the Pistons is he develops into an above average three-point shooter and can play next to Jalen Duren and James Wiseman. Walker’s rebounding and defensive potential is already there, potentially making a Walker-Duren duo in the frontcourt a defensive nightmare for opposing teams.
While Walker does bring defense and rebounding to Detroit, offensively is where the question marks come in. If Jarace Walker is not able to consistently knock down threes, how impactful can he be offensively? You could bank on his ball-handling and playmaking improving, but that is something that he did not show much of in college.
One of Jarace Walker's best traits as a defender is his impact as a weak-side rim protector
— The Box and One (@TheBoxAndOne_) April 25, 2023
7'2" wingspan, great timing, and he's always positionally sound. Should be an excellent team defender
Read my full scout on the potential top-10 pick here: https://t.co/zrsxncrmao pic.twitter.com/MFvlg51VPz
A player comparison for Jarace Walker
One player I really like to compare Jarace Walker to is Paul Millsap. Millsap played in the NBA from 2006-2022 and made four All-Star teams with the Atlanta Hawks. While chances are Jarace Walker doesn’t have the playmaking ability Millsap had, the defensive and rebounding similarities are both there. Millsap stands at 6-foot-7, while Walker is 6-foot-8. Walker could have a similar defensive impact Millsap had and the hope is Walker will be able to develop his game with the ball in his hands.
Walker is not going to have Pistons’ fans dancing in the streets, but he’s one of the best defenders in this class and would immediately help Detroit on that end.