Per Woj: Celtics sign Lonnie Walker (waived)

[jambr380]

If Walker is going to be in the rotation I would think a trade is coming. He looks like a combo of PP and Springer. This could be a nice pickup.

It certainly gives them flexibility to do something later in the season. Only concern would be when too many guys who can play are sitting on the bench. That can lead to issues. You need guys outside of the rotation who will accept their roles. I'm sure Walker and Springer want to play and advance their careers vs being insurance policies.

I have no doubt Walker wants to play, but by signing a non-guaranteed deal with the reigning champions, he likely understands his role if he does make the team. Maybe the plan is to move Springer or even Pritchard to save a decent amount on salary obligations. Maybe the team is ready to move on from Walsh.

It's an interesting signing just based on Walker being a rotation-level player. I'd love to see him stick around.

[celticinorlando]

If Walker is going to be in the rotation I would think a trade is coming. He looks like a combo of PP and Springer. This could be a nice pickup.

It certainly gives them flexibility to do something later in the season. Only concern would be when too many guys who can play are sitting on the bench. That can lead to issues. You need guys outside of the rotation who will accept their roles. I'm sure Walker and Springer want to play and advance their careers vs being insurance policies.

I have no doubt Walker wants to play, but by signing a non-guaranteed deal with the reigning champions, he likely understands his role if he does make the team. Maybe the plan is to move Springer or even Pritchard to save a decent amount on salary obligations. Maybe the team is ready to move on from Walsh.

It's an interesting signing just based on Walker being a rotation-level player. I'd love to see him stick around.

Walker allows them to limit Holiday and White's minutes after a long long run through the finals and Olympics. You can never have enough shooting.

I feel Walker would thrive and be a key piece in Mazzulla Ball. He is an upgrade over Svi and Brissett. Could slot in to back up D White. Play him and PP together.

[tonydelk]

Maybe Walker didn't like what the market was offering and figured a season here will drive up his value. What I love about the current team is they're a pain in the a-- to play with White and Holiday and their relentless D. Walker fits right in.

If Svi can come here, ride the pine and get a multi year contract Walker will be able to do the same as long as he proves he can shoot those corner 3s.  His D is really good.  If he continues to shoot 3s well he should find a home next year.  Being part of a winning culture helps.

[tonydelk]

There is no way Walker doesn?t make this team. He?s a really good bench player that is 25.

Then why was he unsigned for the entire off-season, and could only get an unguaranteed contract?  Don?t get me wrong, I like the guy.  He is in fact the only NBA player I have ever met, so I am absolutely rooting for him.  But realistically, it is more likely than not he is not on the team opening night.

There was an article about this that someone posted.  It was baffling why he wasn't signed.  Walker is a much better player the Svi and Svi got a multi year contract.  Walker should not have been a FA.  He's absolutely a rotation player.  He can play good D and hit the corner 3s at a high clip.  He's also only 25.  Very confusing why he was still a FA.

[RJ87]

Maybe Walker didn't like what the market was offering and figured a season here will drive up his value. What I love about the current team is they're a pain in the a-- to play with White and Holiday and their relentless D. Walker fits right in.

If Svi can come here, ride the pine and get a multi year contract Walker will be able to do the same as long as he proves he can shoot those corner 3s.  His D is really good.  If he continues to shoot 3s well he should find a home next year.  Being part of a winning culture helps.

Svi signed a multiyear deal, but only this season is guaranteed so he can act as Danny Ainge trade fodder all year so not the best comparison.

With that said, Walker is a solid offensive player but his defense just isn't good despite the attempts to retcon that in this thread. I expect him to play a similar role to Svi as a deep rotation guy who mostly picks up his minutes in garbage time. I really think anyone believing he can crack the rotation consistently is going to be disappointed.

[Celtics2021]

There is no way Walker doesn?t make this team. He?s a really good bench player that is 25.

Then why was he unsigned for the entire off-season, and could only get an unguaranteed contract?  Don?t get me wrong, I like the guy.  He is in fact the only NBA player I have ever met, so I am absolutely rooting for him.  But realistically, it is more likely than not he is not on the team opening night.

I don't know what the odds are, but sometimes quality players slip through.  Derrick Jones, Jr. is a good example from last season.

Sure, but even Derrick Jones Jr. (who I was begging for all last summer) signed a guaranteed deal.  Walker couldn?t even get that.

Svi last year?  Non-guaranteed, signed August 31.  Lamar Stevens made the roster, too, and he was a late September signing.

I get your point:  guys signed to non-guaranteed, minimum deals are fringe roster players, and nobody should be surprised if they don't make the team.  But, I'm hopeful, because I think Walker is a rotation-caliber player.

Full disclosure:  I also thought Wenyen Gabriel was a solid signing.

The difference, of course, is that Stevens and Svi were the 13th and 14th players on the roster, and both were signed to non-guaranteed deals (along with Wenyen Gabriel) when the Celtics only had 13 guaranteed players.  The Celtics have 14 already.  Sure, there can technically be a trade that creates a spot, but it?s highly unlikely.  Roughly half of the Celtics are ineligible to be traded before the season, and the Celtics aren?t trading guys like Brown or Horford either, especially not in a deal that brings back fewer players than it sends out.  Really it?s just Pritchard, Scheierman, Walsh, or Springer.  I suppose Walsh could get moved, since I was almost finished with this post and had forgotten him, but there are strong arguments against the other three being moved.

[celticinorlando]

Win the title and come back with a bunch of guys with a chip on their shoulder:

JeffGSpursKENS5
@JeffGSpursZone
?
19m
Heads up, Boston fans, spoke with Lonnie Walker IV's camp, was told he is "ready to earn his keep" w/ Celtics 

[liam]

If Walker is going to be in the rotation I would think a trade is coming. He looks like a combo of PP and Springer. This could be a nice pickup.

It certainly gives them flexibility to do something later in the season. Only concern would be when too many guys who can play are sitting on the bench. That can lead to issues. You need guys outside of the rotation who will accept their roles. I'm sure Walker and Springer want to play and advance their careers vs being insurance policies.

That's what I would think too. Walker is a good 3 point shooter and might make PP expendable. I love PP but he couldn't play much in the finals. PP is the better shooter but Walker is solid. PP is more consistent as he gives 100% at all times on the court. I think Walker is more up and down, especially on
defense. I  think being on this team with Jure and White might light a fire under his ass. With all that said you might as well have both if Queta can play as our big physical big.

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

I'm surprised he couldn't find a better deal. From what I've seen, his level of play is definitely better than E10. But I'm glad Boston got him for peanuts, because he could be a decent bench piece for the Cs.

[Phantom255x]

Lonnie Walker potentially being our 10th man is crazy lol

[Surferdad]

There is no way Walker doesn?t make this team. He?s a really good bench player that is 25.

Then why was he unsigned for the entire off-season, and could only get an unguaranteed contract?  Don?t get me wrong, I like the guy.  He is in fact the only NBA player I have ever met, so I am absolutely rooting for him.  But realistically, it is more likely than not he is not on the team opening night.

I don't know what the odds are, but sometimes quality players slip through.  Derrick Jones, Jr. is a good example from last season.

Sure, but even Derrick Jones Jr. (who I was begging for all last summer) signed a guaranteed deal.  Walker couldn?t even get that.

Svi last year?  Non-guaranteed, signed August 31.  Lamar Stevens made the roster, too, and he was a late September signing.

I get your point:  guys signed to non-guaranteed, minimum deals are fringe roster players, and nobody should be surprised if they don't make the team.  But, I'm hopeful, because I think Walker is a rotation-caliber player.

Full disclosure:  I also thought Wenyen Gabriel was a solid signing.

The difference, of course, is that Stevens and Svi were the 13th and 14th players on the roster, and both were signed to non-guaranteed deals (along with Wenyen Gabriel) when the Celtics only had 13 guaranteed players.  The Celtics have 14 already.  Sure, there can technically be a trade that creates a spot, but it?s highly unlikely.  Roughly half of the Celtics are ineligible to be traded before the season, and the Celtics aren?t trading guys like Brown or Horford either, especially not in a deal that brings back fewer players than it sends out.  Really it?s just Pritchard, Scheierman, Walsh, or Springer.  I suppose Walsh could get moved, since I was almost finished with this post and had forgotten him, but there are strong arguments against the other three being moved.

I have to think a trade is coming. Walsh should have had a better SL but it seems he is struggling with the mental aspect of the game. I really like Springer but seems like odd-man out now. Scheierman likely will be in Maine most of the time. The only improvement in the front court might be organic growth from Tilman and Queta which we don?t even know will happen.

[jambr380]

There is no way Walker doesn?t make this team. He?s a really good bench player that is 25.

Then why was he unsigned for the entire off-season, and could only get an unguaranteed contract?  Don?t get me wrong, I like the guy.  He is in fact the only NBA player I have ever met, so I am absolutely rooting for him.  But realistically, it is more likely than not he is not on the team opening night.

There was an article about this that someone posted.  It was baffling why he wasn't signed.  Walker is a much better player the Svi and Svi got a multi year contract.  Walker should not have been a FA.  He's absolutely a rotation player.  He can play good D and hit the corner 3s at a high clip.  He's also only 25.  Very confusing why he was still a FA.

He's also got decent ball-handling and quickness, and is able to finish difficult shots at the hoop. I am posting this video from Tomasz Kordylewski who always seems to put together the best Celtics compilation videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1a2ShILgwK0&pp=ygUYbG9ubmllIHdhbGtlciBoaWdobGlnaHRz

[Vermont Green]

Assuming that Walker makes the team (and it certainly seems like he should), I don't see this as necessarily meaning that someone else will be traded.  I would have preferred that the last roster spot go to a bigger wing, someone who can play the role of Tatum, but I think our roster balances out just fine as it would stand with Walker added.  It bumps Hauser to a small forward wing role vs a guard wing role, but that doesn't really make any difference.

Combo:   Holiday, White, Pritchard, Springer, Scheierman
Wings:    Tatum, Brown, Hauser, Walker, Walsh
Bigs:       Porzingis, Horford, Kornet, Tillman, Queta

or if you prefer:

Guard 1             Holiday        Pritchard       Springer
Guard 2             White          Walker         Scheierman
Forward 1          Brown          Hauser         Walsh   
Forward 2          Tatum          Horford        Tillman
Center               Porzingis      Kornet          Queta

Maybe Springer or Scheierman beat out Walker to make it into the top 10 rotation, I don't know, but it doesn't matter so much.  Even our bottom 5 are pretty solid players for the most part.  Springer, Tillman, and Queta have proven that they can fill in just fine when needed.  Walsh and Scheierman are prospects who may surprise but that we don't expect to need much out of.

[86MaxwellSmart]

Walsh has got to GO.

[Roy H.]

Walsh has got to GO.

Why?  Because he looked underwhelming in Summer League?

He's an inexpensive project.  Let's allow him to develop.