The forward that was promised? The Indiana Pacers had their choice between Jarace Walker and Taylor Hendricks as the draft went mostly as expected through the first six picks. And instead they took Bilal Coulibaly, Mets 92 Wemby teammate?

Or so anyone would have believed initially that was avoiding Twitter. The Pacers moved back just one selection and picked up two second-round picks in 2028 from the Washington Wizards and both of Coulibaly and Jarace Walker will forever be pictured on the draft podium shaking Adam Silver’s hand with the incorrect team hat on their hand.

With the No. 8 pick, the Wizards select Jarace Walker and trade him to the Pacers, per @wojespn. pic.twitter.com/Uu6cCYuuZD

— ESPN (@espn) June 23, 2023

It’s a great pick for the Pacers who pick up a high-energy defensive monster and a potential high-feel playmaker on offense. A deep dive breakdown of Walker’s pros and cons and his fit with the Pacers here.

Jarace Walker or Taylor Hendricks?

If the choice was mine, I’d struggle to make it. On what makes both of these players enticing fits with the Pacers if they’re available at 7.https://t.co/QwjjjawGKF

— iPacers.com (@iPacersblog) June 22, 2023

Tyrese Haliburton approves.

I like it

— Tyrese Haliburton (@TyHaliburton22) June 23, 2023

With their second pick in the first round, the Pacers selected Ben Sheppard from Belmont, who rose up draft boards after an impressive showing at the NBA combine.

Pacers GM Chad Buchanan was very open about aggressively trying to trade up for Cam Whitmore, why they didn’t draft Trayce Jackson-Davis, and how much they looked at trading their 7th pick in pursuit of a veteran wing on @KevinandQuery today. https://t.co/UgtYTa4iOz

— iPacers.com (@iPacersblog) June 23, 2023