2023 NBA Mock Draft 3.0: Blazers and Bulls find new life
F, Houston . Washington Wizards. Jarace Walker. 8. player. 142.
The Wizards’ looming commitment to Kyle Kuzma could complicate the matter, but not really. Jarace Walker is going to change the trajectory of whichever team drafts him for the better. A wrecking-ball athlete who could be the best defender of his class, Walker is tailor-made for the NBA’s modern defensive landscape.
Walker’s physical dimensions are immediately tantalizing. He’s 6-foot-8, blessed with 240 pounds of muscle and a gaping 7-foot-2 wingspan. He moves with the elegance and fluidity of a player five inches shorter, but he possesses the strength and dogged determination to battle the NBA’s strongest players in the post.
One of the few true 5-position defenders on paper, Walker would provide Washington with a much-needed defensive backbone. He can mirror guards on the perimeter, he can hang around the paint and stifle shot attempts at the rim, or he can switch freely around the court. And then, there’s his offensive potential.
Walker doesn’t have the look of an offensive star at first glance, but he has the kind of frame and skill set that has already drawn Julius Randle comps. He can obliterate defenders with power in the paint, displaying impressive footwork and advanced touch on shots around the rim. A quick processor and solid passer for his size, Walker can operate as a playmaking hub at the elbow or dish to teammates regularly on rolls to the rim.