The Boston Celtics underwent a preseason split with guard Lonnie Walker IV, but the reigning champs haven’t taken their eyes off the six-year veteran.
Walker agreed to a one-year, Exhibit 10 contract with the Celtics in August just before training camp commenced. It was a low-risk, high-reward move by team president of basketball operations Brad Stevens, who with limited financial wiggle room, sought out ways to improve the team’s roster ahead of its title defense.
That didn’t work out.
Now, as Walker’s settled in with the Žalgiris Kaunas of the EuroLeague, the Celtics are among five “potential suitors,” according to NBA insider Marc Stein, to sign Walker and bring him back. The Philadephia 76ers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Miami Heat and Denver Nuggets are the others Walker is rumored to have garnered interest from.
It seemed like a perfect fit in Boston, especially once Walker took the floor for the Celtics in the preseason. The 26-year-old made four appearances, averaged 7.3 points on 42.9% shooting from the field and scored 20 points in 30 minutes during the team’s second-to-last preseason matchup against the Toronto Raptors. Stevens, seemingly, had the next depth fleece in the palm of his hands, however, once the luxury tax caught up to the Celtics it became time to cut ties with Walker — his league-minimum contract would’ve cost Boston over $10 million on top of its over $600 million offseason spree.
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“This is a championship organization coming off a championship year,” Walker said of the Celtics during team media day, per NBC Sports Boston. “It means a lot (to put on this jersey), and you kind of come into here with the championship mindset, not skipping no steps, being to the best of your capability, you owe it to your teammates each and every day to be 100 percent and be prepared, mentally and physically.”
Featured image via Brian Fluharty/Imagn Images
