Celtics signing Lonnie Walker is either a colossal win or completely useless

For as late in the offseason as the Boston Celtics signed Lonnie Walker IV, it’s a smart move. Getting a guy who played actual minutes in the NBA last year (and shot the ball efficiently) is excellent, especially considering he’s only on an Exhibit 10 deal. So, at worst, they can cut ties after the preseason.

But just because the Celtics can’t lose the deal doesn’t mean it’s an automatic win. Instead, signing Walker will go one of two ways: A complete victory or an utterly useless decision.

Celtics signing Lonnie Walker will either be amazing or useless

At his best, Walker could be an impact player right away in Boston’s rotation. He averaged 9.7 points per game last year while shooting 42.3% from the floor and 38.4% from distance. Those are solid numbers.

If the Celtics wanted to give Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Jrue Holiday, and Derrick White some more rest this season, he could step in and provide Boston with a scoring punch at a moment’s notice.

And at just 25 years old, there’s plenty of time for Walker to continue improving on his game, meaning there’s room for him to grow with this Celtics group.

On the other hand, signing Walker could end up being a nothing move for the Celtics.

While Walker’s raw counting stats look solid, there are some things beneath the surface that could be red flags.

First and foremost, Walker isn’t the best defender. He has all the tools to be great on that end of the floor, but he just can’t put the pieces together, whether it be timing, positioning, or risk management.

And what’s worse is that he has the tools but just can’t stay consistent. If a guy doesn’t have the body to be a stellar defender, but players who have it all in place but can’t paint the picture are red flags.

Plus, Walker’s three-point shooting last year was a bit inflated by a hot start. Before the All-Star break, Walker couldn’t miss. He shot 43.3% from 4.8 threes per game. After the break, he shot 30.8% on 4.5 attempts per game.

Obviously, players go through cold stretches, but considering Walker has never been a consistent shooter, and he was red hot to start the year, this could be a concerning trend.

But with how packed the Celtics roster is, it seems as though Walker’s time in green will end in one of two ways: A regular spot in the rotation and a chance to grow with the team, or playing virtually no role (and potentially joining another squad before the start of the season).