The Boston Celtics are bolstering their backcourt with the addition of veteran guard Lonnie Walker IV. According to league sources, Walker has signed a one-year, non-guaranteed Exhibit 10 deal with the team, allowing him to compete for a roster spot during training camp. If he doesn’t make the final cut, he can still earn a $77,500 bonus by spending at least 60 days with the Maine Celtics, Boston’s G-League affiliate. The news was first reported by Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
At 25, Walker was one of the more skilled guards available in free agency this offseason. Last year with the Brooklyn Nets, he averaged 9.7 points and 2.2 rebounds over 58 games while shooting an impressive 38.4% from beyond the arc, marking his best 3-point shooting season since 2019-20.
Walker took a gamble by signing a veteran’s minimum contract with the Nets last year, banking on himself to prove his worth. Now, with Boston, he’s betting on his abilities again, aiming to secure a spot on a team that currently has 14 players on guaranteed contracts. Boston has often left one roster spot open for flexibility, and with Kristaps Porzingis recovering from offseason surgery, there’s a potential need for additional frontcourt depth. However, if Walker performs well in training camp, he could offer a valuable option behind Payton Pritchard, providing a dynamic spark off the bench.
Originally drafted by the San Antonio Spurs in the first round of the 2018 NBA Draft, Walker spent four seasons with the Spurs before playing for the Lakers and the Nets. Over his six-year NBA career, he has averaged 9.8 points and 2.3 rebounds per game, shooting 42.2% from the field and 35.6% from three-point range.
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