2 weeks Ago
With the seventh overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, the Indiana Pacers selected Bilal Coulibaly from France, who was best known as Victor Wembnayama's running mate on Metroplitans 92. After the selection was made, they helped broker a three-team deal that sent Coulibaly to Washington in exchange for eighth-overall pick Jarace Walker and two distant second-round picks. Since that fateful trade, Walker has barely cracked the Pacers' rotation and Coulibaly has emerged as one of the most exciting young players in the NBA.
© Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images Both players were athletic, physical, and defensive-minded raw talents, and it was generally expected that both players would take a year or two to season. In his first season with the playoff-bound Pacers, Walker was buried on the depth chart, only playing 10 minutes a game in 33 appearances. He averaged 3.
6 points and 1.9 rebounds while shooting 40 percent from behind the 3-point line. Coulibaly got to play more since the Wizards were horrible all season last year, but only managed to post 8.
4 points and 4.1 rebounds on 34.6 percent shooting from deep.
This season has been another story. Through six games, Walker has barely cracked the rotation and appears to have regressed, while Coulibaly has emerged as an elite young player for a frisky Wizards' team. Walker & Coulibaly Second-Year Stats Walker 3.
8 1.5 0.8 1.
0 44.4% 33.3% Coulibaly 19.
4 6.2 2.6 1.
4 60.7% 47.6% While it's true that Coulibaly gets more experience due to being on a bad team, you'd be hard-pressed to find a fan who thinks Walker is the better player.
The Pacers took on a second-round pick in 2028 and 2029 to give up Coulibaly, who was briefly in their grasp, but it's hardly worth it for one of the best 20-year-old players in the NBA. Related: Pacers Could Trade for $20 Million Center Amid Injury Struggles The Pacers and Wizards won't match up against each other until November 24, giving both teams time to find their footing and return to the norm..
