After having a relatively quiet offseason, the Boston Celtics have reportedly decided to bring in an NBA veteran to the team. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Celtics have signed shooting guard Lonnie Walker IV to a one-year contract.
Free agent G Lonnie Walker IV has agreed on a one-year deal with the Boston Celtics, his agent George S. Langberg of GSL Sports Group tells ESPN. Walker IV averaged 9.7 points and shot 38% on three-pointers in 58 games for Brooklyn last season. pic.twitter.com/uAvrtsIQkD
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 29, 2024
Additionally, The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported that the Celtics brought Walker in specifically on an Exhibit 10 contract.
Contract details for Lonnie Walker IV with the Celtics, sources said: Exhibit 10. An E10 allows Celtics to give a bonus to Walker if he is waived after training camp and plays for the team’s G League affiliate in Maine.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 29, 2024
Walker spent the 2023-24 season with the Brooklyn Nets. In 58 games, he averaged 9.7 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.3 assists. Additionally, he shot 42.3% from the floor and 38.4% from the three-point line. The former first-round pick also spent time with the San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Lakers in his six-year NBA career.
The Pennsylvania native is probably best known for his playoff performance against the Golden State Warriors in Game 4 of the 2023 Western Conference Semifinals. Walker played the entire fourth quarter off the bench and scored all of his 15 points while shooting 6-for-9 from the floor. Additionally, he recorded three rebounds, two assists, and two steals in the win. In large part due to Walker’s fourth-quarter showcase, the Lakers outscored Golden State by 10 points in the quarter to win 104-101 and take a 3-1 series lead. The Lakers ultimately won the series in six games.
Boston Celtics Sign Athletic Guard to One-Year Deal
What Lonnie Walker IV Brings to Boston
Walker has developed exponentially as a perimeter scorer during his NBA career. Additionally, he is a fantastic athlete, and at just 25 years old, he still has room to grow. While he is not a lockdown defender, Walker can hold his own. In Boston’s system, this should not be a problem considering how much defensive talent they have on the roster.
He has proven he can be a microwave off the bench and provide solid scoring. How much of a role he has on the team remains unclear. However, he is someone who can contribute immediately.
The Last Word On Lonnie Walker IV
Signing Walker is an incredibly low-risk, high-reward move for Boston. Walker is a very talented player who many believe should have been signed a long time ago. Earlier in the day, former Spurs teammate Devin Vassell tweeted it “doesn’t make any sense” that no team wanted Walker. Ultimately, the Celtics were the team to pull the trigger and bring him in.
