Pacers Executive on Jarace Walker and Ben Sheppard Extensions: 'We'll See'

Asked about rookie-scale extensions for Jarace Walker and Ben Sheppard, an Indiana Pacers front office executive answered anonymously in a conversation with Keith Smith of Spotrac at Summer League in Las Vegas.

"We'll see. We have a lot of money committed to a lot of players already. You can't keep everyone, unfortunately. Both Jarace and Ben have had moments, but neither have done it consistently. Last year was a big opportunity but, being completely honest, neither guy really seized it. With the depth we have with a healthy team, they both have their work cut out for them," the executive said.

Both players came out of the 2023 draft. Washington took Walker at No. 8 and traded him to Indiana that night for Bilal Coulibaly and two 2028 second-round picks. The Pacers took Sheppard at No. 26.

Both are eligible for rookie-scale extensions this offseason, and both windows close the day before the regular season opens.

Walker is entering the final year of his rookie contract. Indiana exercised the $8,478,542 option for 2026-27 in October of 2025.

Last season was the largest role of Walker's career. He played 76 games and made 41 starts, averaging 11.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in 25.7 minutes. He shot 41.9% from the field, 37.4% from 3-point range, and 74.9% from the line. All three counting numbers were career highs.

The two seasons before that were smaller. Walker averaged 6.1 points in 15.8 minutes across 75 games in 2024-25, with five starts, and 3.6 points in 10.3 minutes as a rookie. Over 184 career games he has averaged 8.0 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.9 assists on 43.4% shooting. He turns 23 in September.

Pacers general manager Chad Buchanan was asked about Walker this month, per Pacers On SI.

"We talk to him all the time about, can you be our OG Anunoby?" Buchanan said. "Can you be a guy that catches and shoots, can drive on a closeout, but also takes on the responsibility of guarding the other teams, best bigger wing. Play with some physicality, play with some attitude. And if you can do that I mean, he's a very valuable player for us."

Anunoby plays for the New York Knicks, who won the 2026 championship. Walker is in line to open the season as Indiana's primary backup small forward.

Sheppard is due $5,031,669 in 2026-27, the last year of a four-year rookie deal worth $13,023,429.

His season ran in fragments. Sheppard missed most of the preseason, then started the second half of the opener with Andrew Nembhard out, and by the third game he was playing point guard. A calf injury later cost him close to a month.

Sheppard logged 1,303 minutes and totaled 432 points, 185 rebounds, and 106 assists. He shot 43.4% from the field, 36.8% from 3-point range, and 75.5% from the line. After the calf injury he shot 41.7% from deep the rest of the way.

Sheppard came out of Belmont, where he averaged 18.8 points as a senior and made first-team All-Missouri Valley Conference.

Indiana has money committed elsewhere. Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam each carry a $48.92 million salary for 2026-27, and Siakam became eligible July 6 for an extension worth up to $207 million. Ivica Zubac is at $20.34 million and becomes extension-eligible Sept. 3. Kelly Oubre Jr. signed for nearly $17 million over two years.

Indiana projects to be over the first tax apron.

The Pacers open training camp on Sept. 29.