Just when it seemed as though the Boston Celtics were done pulling offseason triggers and confidently prepared to embark on a potential repeat as reigning NBA champions, president of basketball operations Brad Stevens revealed the organization isn't done finding ways to improve -- even with Opening Night less than two months away.
The Celtics signed guard Lonnie Walker IV to a one-year deal, an Exhibit 10 contract, per The Athletic's Shams Charania, which allows the 25-year-old to gain a bonus if Boston decides to waive him after training camp and assign Walker to its G League affiliate in Maine. Then again, if Walker does make the cut and lands a role in the team's reserve unit, the low-cost, low-risk signing could prove to be a win-win for all parties involved, and possibly the latest tally on Stevens' list of front office fleeces.
Walker averaged 9.7 points on 42.3% shooting and 38.4% from 3-point territory, doing so while logging 17.4 minutes through 58 games with the Brooklyn Nets last season. That outside shooting production places Walker above the league average (37.2%) last season from guards across the NBA, which of course, fits perfectly into the offensive structure of Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla. Considering Walker, at the very least, could fill the team's final roster spot and replace free agent Oshae Brissett, the signing poses the potential for an upgrade. Walker's a better shooter from three than Brissett and a more skilled playmaker than Svi Mykhailiuk -- the only other member of Boston's title-winning roster who wasn't retained this offseason.
There's also the two-sided incentive between a Walker-Celtics bonding. Boston just proved itself as the NBA's most elite assembling of talent by winning a league-leading 64 games in the regular season, cruising with a 16-3 record in the postseason en route to Banner 18 and gaining "NBA 2K25" bragging rights with Jayson Tatum as the cover athlete. But settling for just one title isn't enough, especially after ownership invested a whooping $930-plus million on the starting lineup's contracts alone -- Tatum ($315 million), Jaylen Brown ($286 million), Kristaps Porzingis ($60 million), Jrue Holiday ($135 million) and Derrick White ($125 million). Recognizing an opportunity to form a dynasty run, much like the Golden State Warriors who've won four titles in the past nine years, Boston is hungry for more -- as Walker, too should be.
The veteran has bounced off one-year contracts with the Nets and Los Angeles Lakers, unable to secure a stable multi-year deal since signing a four-year rookie contract with the San Antonio Spurs in 2018. To put it simply, Walker is battling for a payday and the breathing room to secure a role. Even if the Celtics aren't the team to provide that, especially amid its majority ownership stake sale and salary cap complications, Boston could still offer a bridge opportunity for Walker to showcase a breakout of some sort before returning to the free agency market next season. The Celtics are bound, not only for playoff basketball but another deep run toward Banner 19, which -- based on last season's results -- could provide a plethora of avenues for Mazzulla to insert Walker in a multitude of situations to produce in timely moments.
Worst-case scenario, Stevens cuts ties and patiently awaits the developmental results of rookies Baylor Scheierman and Anton Watson, and second-year forward Jordan Walsh throughout preseason and the early weeks of 2024-25.
