As reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Celtics have landed free agent Lonnie Walker IV on a one-year deal. Walker is the club’s first significant free agent acquisition of the summer, and the deal strengthens the roster. The contract is non-guaranteed because it is an Exhibit 10 deal, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic. Walker may be waived, but he will be with the squad for training camp. In the event that he signs with their G-League affiliate in Maine, he will be entitled to a bonus, and the agreement may be extended to both parties.
Walker, the 18th selection overall in 2018, has a bigger ceiling than the normal free agent available this late in the summer, averaging 9.8 points during his career. Walker, who was on the Brooklyn Nets’ minimum deal, averaged 9.7 points per game and hit 38% from three previous season. Throughout his six-year NBA career, he has played for the Spurs, Lakers, and Nets.
Walker gained notoriety for his spectacular performance with the Lakers in the 2023 postseason. Against the Warriors in Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals, he scored 15 points in the fourth quarter while shooting 6 of 9 from the field. It seemed inevitable earlier in the summer that the Celtics would free up the 15th roster space. Brad Stevens said at Summer League, “We kept fourteen most of the year last year.” That is still possible because the contract is a training camp deal. Stevens did, however, also hint that in the upcoming months, the front staff would evaluate who else might be available in free agency.
