Lonnie Walker IV spent four preseason games with the Boston Celtics but left quite the impression before saying goodbye to the reigning champs.
Boston originally signed Walker to an Exhibit-10 contract, generally reserved for little-known journeymen, and the six-year veteran made the most of the opportunity. Walker joined the Celtics for training camp and even reunited with former San Antonio Spurs teammate Derrick White. Once Walker’s call to action arrived, the dynamic playmaker performed and made the split difficult.
Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens, in fact, contemplated an even tougher decision to keep Walker aboard, per MassLive’s Brian Robb. The idea Stevens flirted with was shopping guard Jaden Springer around in a trade that could alleviate the financial complexities that prompted Boston to let Walker go. Springer is set to earn over $4 million this season while Walker’s veteran minimum had the Celtics on the hook for $2.1 million.
Where Walker’s short-lived Celtics run became complicated was within the franchise’s (very) expensive offseason. Boston spent a record $315 million to re-sign Jayson Tatum while also keeping Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis to extensions that combine to cost ownership over $900 million. Not a lot of wiggle room was left from that point forward.
Stevens also signed reserve Sam Hauser to a $45 million extension and retained Luke Kornet and Xavier Tillman to keep the championship roster almost completely intact — Svi Mykhailiuk and Oshae Brissett were the team’s only losses to free agency.
On the one hand, Springer isn’t threatening the front office’s luxury tax — the bigger issue. Walker, even while slated to earn the veteran’s minimum, would’ve cost the Celtics $10 million in luxury taxes. Springer doesn’t provide Boston any value besides ineffective garbage time appearances. So far, the 22-year-old has logged 3.3 minutes across eight games, scoring seven points in total.
Walker averaged 7.3 points for the Celtics in the preseason, most notably scoring 20 points and draining four 3-pointers against the Toronto Raptors at TD Garden. It’s not far-fetched to imagine Walker giving Boston much more than Springer has shown since joining the team before last year’s NBA trade deadline. Walker remains an option for everyone as he now is a member of Žalgiris Kaunas of the Lithuanian Basketball League, .
Walker’s current EuroLeague contract includes a buyout clause that could be exercised before Feb. 18.
