It took just 1 game for Lonnie Walker IV to prove Celtics were right to ditch him

When the Boston Celtics signed Lonnie Walker IV at the end of free agency, it caught the attention of the rest of the league. Walker played big-time minutes for the Brooklyn Nets last season, yet somehow, he found himself without a job by the time most guys had signed in free agency. Then, Boston swooped in and scooped him up.

However, he was only signed to an Exhibit 10 contract. Walker spent training camp and the Celtics’ preseason slate competing for a spot on the roster. But by the time the regular season came around, Boston parted ways with Walker, choosing to maintain some flexiblity and save some money by keeping their 15th roster spot open.

As a result, Walker signed with Zalgiris Kaunas in the EuroLeague. And it only took one game for him to prove that the Celtics made the right decision.

Lonnie Walker's EuroLeague debut proved the Celtics right

In Walker’s debut game with Zalgiris, he failed to score a point, going 0-of-8 from the field. He only had one assist and turned the ball over twice in 12 minutes of action.

“I could not put a basketball in the ocean, but this is my first game,” Walker said post-game via Johnny Askounis of Eurohoops.

It may be a bit harsh (and cynical) to say that one performance is enough to prove Boston right, but in a way, it is. Walker’s first showing in the EuroLeague is representative of the reason why the Celtics were correct to let him walk (at least for now).

The Celtics’ roster is completely fleshed out in terms of shot-takers. From Jayson Tatum to Jaylen Brown all the way down to Payton Pritchard, they have guys who are going to get their shots in.

At best, Walker was slated to be the 10th man in the rotation, and even that could be generous, considering how much Joe Mazzulla has liked playing double-big lineups.

Throughout his NBA career, Walker has been a bucket-getter first. Even in his 20-point preseason game with the Celtics, he got hot because he got shots. Without consistent touches, there’s no guarantee that his efficiency would live up to snuff.

That showed in his first game with Zalgiris.

Walker only earned 12 minutes of playing time, but he chucked up eight shots, and he didn’t make a single one of them.

On a team like the Celtics, Walker wouldn’t get a ton of shots, and that could disrupt his rhythm. And Boston doesn’t need a player like that in the rotation.

He’s a solid player, but he’s not a perfect fit on the Celtics roster.