BOSTON – The Boston Celtics shocked the NBA this summer when they signed Lonnie Walker IV to a contract. He played real minutes for the Brooklyn Nets last season, yet months into free agency, he was left unsigned. That opened the door for the Celtics to ink him to an Exhibit 10 contract for training camp.
Seeing a guy of Walker’s caliber sign to a training camp deal was jarring, but it’s a testament to how much talent there is in the NBA right now. He’ll have to fight an uphill battle to make the roster in Boston, as they brought back nearly everybody from last year’s team.
At Celtics Media Day, President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens shared some thoughts on the status of Walker heading into the season, including what, in part, brought him to Boston in the first place.
Celtics Media Day: Brad Stevens discusses Lonnie Walker IV's status on roster
Apparently, Walker's past relationships with Derrick White and Jrue Holiday aided the process.
“He's a guy who was very excited to be here,” Stevens said. “I think his relationship with Derrick. He's worked out with Jrue a lot... I think there was an eagerness to be around those guys and to try a new situation. Obviously, he's got a lot of talent... We'll see how it fits and plays itself out."
Walker played with White on the San Antonio Spurs for three and a half seasons before the latter was traded to the Celtics at the 2022 deadline. As for Holiday, while Walker has never played on the same team with him, the two have evidently spent time in the gym together.
Having two players on the team who know Walker could be a benefit for the 25-year-old, but it won’t necessarily guarantee him a spot on the roster.
As noted, it will be a challenge for Walker to land a spot with the C’s this season. They only have one roster spot open, and rumblings have indicated their desire to keep the slot clear in an attempt to maintain roster flexibility.
That said, White and Holiday are perfect mentors for Walker.
Both Holiday and White have been consistent faces on the NBA’s All-Defensive Teams. If they can help Walker improve on that end of the floor, it would be a game-changer.
Last year with the Nets, Walker appeared in 58 games, playing 17.4 minutes per contest. He averaged 9.7 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.3 assists while shooting 42.3% from the field and 38.4% from beyond the three-point arc.
The Celtics open their season on October 22 against the New York Knicks. That means Walker will have to go through all of the training camp and the preseasons to prove himself. That may seem like a long time, but it’s less than a month. Lots of decisions will be made in that time.