It was always an uphill climb for Lonnie Walker IV to make the Boston Celtics.
For yet another summer, he wasn’t among the first or even second wave of signings. This time was a little different though, as Walker signed an Exhibit 10 contract, which is essentially a training camp deal. So, with no assurances he would even be on the final roster, Walker has been approaching 2024-25 with a feverish effort.
Strangely, this isn’t a case of a player who needed to prove he’s one of the team’s top 15 players. At no point has that been the question. However, the CBA’s restrictive policies and the Celtics’ cap conundrum meant that adding him would be costly. Essentially, though Walker would be on a minimum contract, Boston’s books would look like he was being paid around the non-taxpayers mid-level exception.
Celtics Make Highly Controversial Lonnie Walker IV Decision
On Saturday, the Celtics decided to release Walker, per ESPN insider Shams Charania.
The Boston Celtics are waiving guard Lonnie Walker IV, sources tell ESPN. Walker averaged 7.3 points in 16.4 minutes per game in Celtics preseason. pic.twitter.com/uznog6EiEQ
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 19, 2024
The Miami product averaged 7.3 points in 16.4 minutes per game this season, shooting 42.9 percent from the field and 31.3 percent from 3. However, those numbers are somewhat skewed, as Walker only played 11 total minutes in his first two contests. Small samples are illuminating in some ways, but not the best way to assess a player’s impact.
In his final two preseason games, Walker averaged 14.5 points in 27.5 minutes per game, shooting 54.5 percent from the field and 38.5 percent from distance. In those two outings, Walker showed two distinct aspects of his skillset.
Against the Philadelphia 76ers, he was part of the team’s connective tissue, making his presence felt at both ends. He finished the game with nine points, seven assists, two steals and one block.
When the Celtics took on the Toronto Raptors, Walker let his scoring instincts takeover. The former first-round pick scored 20 points in 30 minutes, knocking down four threes along the way.
That being said, it’s easy to see the impact that he could have made.
Offensively, Walker is reminiscent of Jaylen Brown, an athletic scoring-minded wing still learning when to flip his playmaking switch. Defensively, he can be pretty effective when engaged. At just 25 years old, he’s young enough to grow alongside the team’s core. After playing for the Los Angeles Lakers in 2022-23, he has experience playing for a championship-contender.
Unfortunately for Walker, the basketball just didn’t matter as much as business in his quest for a spot on the Celtics roster.
