Free agent Lonnie Walker IV surprisingly went unsigned heading into September before news broke that he would be joining defending champion Boston CelticsThe move was surprising, to say the least, given that he was arguably the best unrestricted free agent still available.
Walker played well as a backup for the Brooklyn Nets last season, averaging 9.7 points in 17.4 minutes per game while shooting 38.4 percent from three-point range. His improved efficiency from the outside helped make him the ideal microwave fit. Despite that, there were no rumors of interest between him and another team before the Celtics swooped in.
They now have an athletic 25-year-old who can wreak havoc on the second unit. Teams like the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Lakers could have used him, but the Nuggets didn’t have any roster spots available at the moment.
As for the Lakers, they don’t seem interested in signing free agents, given that they’re the only team that hasn’t done so. Some team had to sign Walker, but the Celtics got him, for next to nothing.
Lonnie Walker IV, Celtics Agree to Exhibit 10 Deal https://t.co/o5ngYrvpdo
— RealGM (@RealGM) August 29, 2024
He was expected to get a minimum contract regardless of the club he signed with, which would have been his third consecutive one-year deal after his qualifying offer was not picked up by the San Antonio Spurs. That’s not to say he’s a bad player, but he hasn’t found a long-term role yet.
While he probably won’t find it in Boston, they could probably get him regular playing time on the second unit. Ironically, Walker signed an “exhibit 10” contract, which is a compensatory deal, something undrafted players typically take.
Typically, this is done to give them a signing bonus so they can join a team, often to play in Summer League, go through training camp and the preseason before being cut and signing directly with a team’s G League affiliate. Walker likely won’t be playing in Maine for the Celtics’ affiliate, but it’s an interesting situation. Overall, Boston managed to sign the best unrestricted free agent left. With them, arguably the best team in the NBA, the rich just got richer.
