Per Woj: Celtics sign Lonnie Walker (waived)

[Goldstar88]

I read that signing Walker to a $2.1M minimum deal would result in roughly $10M in luxury tax. Boston would certainly not want to do that just to sign a 15th man. This is turning to be real interesting. I think a minor trade is definitely happening if Walker impresses in camp. Perhaps Springer or Walsh is moved? Or maybe even Pritchard?

Why would the Celtics move Pritchard to keep Walker? Payton is part of the rotation and they just signed him to a very team friendly extension.

[Surferdad]

I read that signing Walker to a $2.1M minimum deal would result in roughly $10M in luxury tax. Boston would certainly not want to do that just to sign a 15th man. This is turning to be real interesting. I think a minor trade is definitely happening if Walker impresses in camp. Perhaps Springer or Walsh is moved? Or maybe even Pritchard?

Why would the Celtics move Pritchard to keep Walker? Payton is part of the rotation and they just signed him to a very team friendly extension.

He's undersized and less experienced than Walker, plus he has good trade value right now. The luxury tax hit, if true, means C's need to shed salary. I doubt Lonnie Walker accept a G-league assignment, he's better off going to Europe.

[RJ87]

I read that signing Walker to a $2.1M minimum deal would result in roughly $10M in luxury tax. Boston would certainly not want to do that just to sign a 15th man. This is turning to be real interesting. I think a minor trade is definitely happening if Walker impresses in camp. Perhaps Springer or Walsh is moved? Or maybe even Pritchard?

Why would the Celtics move Pritchard to keep Walker? Payton is part of the rotation and they just signed him to a very team friendly extension.

He's undersized and less experienced than Walker, plus he has good trade value right now. The luxury tax hit, if true, means C's need to shed salary. I doubt Lonnie Walker accept a G-league assignment, he's better off going to Europe.

Does Payton have less experience than Lonnie? I know Walker has been in the league longer, but there's a gap in their playoff experience.

[Roy H.]

I read that signing Walker to a $2.1M minimum deal would result in roughly $10M in luxury tax. Boston would certainly not want to do that just to sign a 15th man. This is turning to be real interesting. I think a minor trade is definitely happening if Walker impresses in camp. Perhaps Springer or Walsh is moved? Or maybe even Pritchard?

Why would the Celtics move Pritchard to keep Walker? Payton is part of the rotation and they just signed him to a very team friendly extension.

He's undersized and less experienced than Walker, plus he has good trade value right now. The luxury tax hit, if true, means C's need to shed salary. I doubt Lonnie Walker accept a G-league assignment, he's better off going to Europe.

The Celtics don't "need" to shed salary.  Lowering our championship chances by trading away a key bench player would be stupid.

If something catastrophic happened -- like a season-ending injury to Tatum -- then maybe you trade Pritchard along with Springer to get under the second apron.  Otherwise, the team shouldn't worry about nickel and diming our repeat chances.

[mobilija]

No need to trade anyone. We?re at 15 players with a playoff tested championship core 8. Add two solid rotational bigs, and WIV (hopefully) to make a trusty regular season group of 11. That leaves us with 2 vet projects to sprinkle in and 2 projects to soak up the extra rings. This core is gonna be gel-ed, don?t mess with it.

If we need to shed salary, Springer is the obvious choice to move on from. High salary for his role. They should give him early playing time this fall to hopefully pump up some interest. Springer vs WIV for the minutes soaker role while core guys get days off.

[Vermont Green]

I don't expect that the Celtics will necessarily trade anyone directly in response to signing or not signing Walker.  I think what has to happen is that Walker has to prove he can be a rotation player, at or near the Pritchard/Hauser level.  If they think he is that good (based on preseason performance), he is worth signing.  If he is less than that, maybe more at the Mykhailiuk or Stevens level of expected contribution, then they probably don't sign him.

I think the hope or even expectation is that Walker will be able to play at a level of #9 or #10 on the roster, right there with Pritchard or Hauser.  If not, there is no reason to pay him.  I am not sure where he will fit but it seems realistic that he can be right there with Pritchard/Hauser.

[Neurotic Guy]

I don't expect that the Celtics will necessarily trade anyone directly in response to signing or not signing Walker.  I think what has to happen is that Walker has to prove he can be a rotation player, at or near the Pritchard/Hauser level.  If they think he is that good (based on preseason performance), he is worth signing.  If he is less than that, maybe more at the Mykhailiuk or Stevens level of expected contribution, then they probably don't sign him.

I think the hope or even expectation is that Walker will be able to play at a level of #9 or #10 on the roster, right there with Pritchard or Hauser.  If not, there is no reason to pay him.  I am not sure where he will fit but it seems realistic that he can be right there with Pritchard/Hauser.

How is Scheierman fitting into this analysis?  I?m hoping he is also near PP Sam level - or close enough that they see that he?ll get there.  I think Walker needs to beat out Scheierman.  If he does, they both stay. If not, Walker probably goes.??

[Vermont Green]

In my analysis, I am not expecting Scheierman to contribute much as a rookie.  He may prove me wrong, but I am not counting on Scheierman to contribute much at all.  I see him as the 14th guy or maybe 15th guy, depending on how Walsh does.

[Redz]

In my analysis, I am not expecting Scheierman to contribute much as a rookie.  He may prove me wrong, but I am not counting on Scheierman to contribute much at all.  I see him as the 14th guy or maybe 15th guy, depending on how Walsh does.

I'd actually forgotten all about him!  This whole "roll it back" thing is embedded in my head apparently.

[Vermont Green]

I will add one more thing on Scheierman, in the summer league, Springer outplayed him.  Springer looked like a man among boys, best player on the court while Scheierman looked like a good solid summer league player.

Based on that, I have Scheierman well behind Springer in terms of expectation for the upcoming season.  Walker may earn a spot ahead of Springer.  Springer will be 22 in September so still younger than Scheierman by almost exactly 2 years, but has 67 NBA games in 3 seasons.  I am not expecting much from Springer either, but he is much closer than Scheierman to being a contributing NBA player.

I think Walker (who is 26) will have to show he is better than both before the Celtics will offer him a contract.

[Roy H.]

I will add one more thing on Scheierman, in the summer league, Springer outplayed him.  Springer looked like a man among boys, best player on the court while Scheierman looked like a good solid summer league player.

Based on that, I have Scheierman well behind Springer in terms of expectation for the upcoming season.  Walker may earn a spot ahead of Springer.  Springer will be 22 in September so still younger than Scheierman by almost exactly 2 years, but has 67 NBA games in 3 seasons.  I am not expecting much from Springer either, but he is much closer than Scheierman to being a contributing NBA player.

I think Walker (who is 26) will have to show he is better than both before the Celtics will offer him a contract.

I have no expectations for Springer.  I don't think he'll ever be more than a defensive specialist.  I'm not sure if that's worth a roster spot in the current NBA.  I'm sure it's not worth more than the minimum.  I'd love to see him traded, but I don't think he has any trade value.

I agree with you on Scheierman.  I'm expecting something similar to Hauser's rookie year (without the crazy efficiency).

[Vermont Green]

I will add one more thing on Scheierman, in the summer league, Springer outplayed him.  Springer looked like a man among boys, best player on the court while Scheierman looked like a good solid summer league player.

Based on that, I have Scheierman well behind Springer in terms of expectation for the upcoming season.  Walker may earn a spot ahead of Springer.  Springer will be 22 in September so still younger than Scheierman by almost exactly 2 years, but has 67 NBA games in 3 seasons.  I am not expecting much from Springer either, but he is much closer than Scheierman to being a contributing NBA player.

I think Walker (who is 26) will have to show he is better than both before the Celtics will offer him a contract.

I have no expectations for Springer.  I don't think he'll ever be more than a defensive specialist.  I'm not sure if that's worth a roster spot in the current NBA.  I'm sure it's not worth more than the minimum.  I'd love to see him traded, but I don't think he has any trade value.

I agree with you on Scheierman.  I'm expecting something similar to Hauser's rookie year (without the crazy efficiency).

Springer will be 22 later in Sept.  Scheierman will be 24 later in Sept.  Springer is a much better player right now (at least based on what I saw in summer league).  So one player is 2 years younger and better, you would expect that player to have more ceiling, more potential.

I agree with you on the cost though.  Springer is $4.0M and Scheierman is about $2.5M.  Hard to trade Springer without including a pick or something, but some lower end team would probably bite on that for a second round pick.  The original trade ended up being more or less Banton (we got a second) for Springer (we sent a second).  The Celtics clearly had some interest in Springer.  I see an NBA level athlete but he needs to develop more shooting/scoring touch.

[Goldstar88]

I will add one more thing on Scheierman, in the summer league, Springer outplayed him.  Springer looked like a man among boys, best player on the court while Scheierman looked like a good solid summer league player.

Based on that, I have Scheierman well behind Springer in terms of expectation for the upcoming season.  Walker may earn a spot ahead of Springer.  Springer will be 22 in September so still younger than Scheierman by almost exactly 2 years, but has 67 NBA games in 3 seasons.  I am not expecting much from Springer either, but he is much closer than Scheierman to being a contributing NBA player.

I think Walker (who is 26) will have to show he is better than both before the Celtics will offer him a contract.

I thought Schierman looked bad in the summer league. Not because his shot wasn?t falling, but due to his defense being atrocious. If I had to choose between the two, I?d take Springer without hesitation. Walker is better than both of them.

[liam]

I don't expect that the Celtics will necessarily trade anyone directly in response to signing or not signing Walker.  I think what has to happen is that Walker has to prove he can be a rotation player, at or near the Pritchard/Hauser level.  If they think he is that good (based on preseason performance), he is worth signing.  If he is less than that, maybe more at the Mykhailiuk or Stevens level of expected contribution, then they probably don't sign him.

I think the hope or even expectation is that Walker will be able to play at a level of #9 or #10 on the roster, right there with Pritchard or Hauser.  If not, there is no reason to pay him.  I am not sure where he will fit but it seems realistic that he can be right there with Pritchard/Hauser.

How is Scheierman fitting into this analysis?  I?m hoping he is also near PP Sam level - or close enough that they see that he?ll get there.  I think Walker needs to beat out Scheierman.  If he does, they both stay. If not, Walker probably goes.??

I think a year of conditioning will do wonders for Scheierman.

[Big333223]

I will add one more thing on Scheierman, in the summer league, Springer outplayed him.  Springer looked like a man among boys, best player on the court while Scheierman looked like a good solid summer league player.

Based on that, I have Scheierman well behind Springer in terms of expectation for the upcoming season.  Walker may earn a spot ahead of Springer.  Springer will be 22 in September so still younger than Scheierman by almost exactly 2 years, but has 67 NBA games in 3 seasons.  I am not expecting much from Springer either, but he is much closer than Scheierman to being a contributing NBA player.

I think Walker (who is 26) will have to show he is better than both before the Celtics will offer him a contract.

I thought Schierman looked bad in the summer league. Not because his shot wasn?t falling, but due to his defense being atrocious. If I had to choose between the two, I?d take Springer without hesitation. Walker is better than both of them.

Yeah, I think anyone expecting anything from Scheierman this season is going to be disappointed.