Lonnie Walker IV signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Celtics to extend their offseason roster to twenty gamers, together with three coaching camp invitations.
That leaves one open spot weeks from the workforce’s head begin earlier than it travels to Abu Dhabi for a pair of exhibitions towards the Nuggets, whereas Boston’s lone remaining customary roster spot unofficially stays unfilled. Walker may ultimately fill that spot. For now, it’s no assure.
Walker signing with Boston got here as some shock as a lot as his availability was days earlier than September following a robust taking pictures season with the Brooklyn Nets. An Exhibit 10 deal may additionally place Walker IV to start the yr with Maine, as there’s no clear path to him touchdown a roster spot forward of any of the 14 gamers on customary contracts in entrance of him.
The Celtics have sometimes held their fifteenth roster spot open for flexibility’s sake and now have a big luxurious tax cause to take action. If Walker signed for the veteran’s minimal on day one — which carries a $2.1 million cap hit this yr — that may add almost $10 million to Boston’s tax invoice. He’d want a transparent path to a job on the roster for that to make sense.
“We saved 14 a lot of the yr final yr, then we added two on the finish of the yr,” Brad Stevens mentioned in July. “We’ll see how the following few months play themselves out with regard to folks’s availability. Clearly, Kristaps goes to have an extended rehab course of forward of him. Then we now have to find out what’s one of the best want for our workforce in that fifteenth spot?”
Walker IV shot 38.4% from three in 2024, together with 39% splits in pull-up and catch-and-shoot conditions, whereas hitting at a 44.9% charge from the nook. That stage of taking pictures would challenge towards one other alternative rising rapidly for the 25-year-old. Nevertheless, his effectivity didn’t show as robust on a per possession foundation, posting a poor 0.83 PPP operating pick-and-roll, 0.91 in isolation, 1.05 whereas recognizing up and 0.73 off screens. All of these figures hovered at or beneath the fiftieth percentile of all NBA gamers.
The Celtics may not want him to do any of these issues, however will demand that he defends. His numbers on the opposite facet of the ball beg for enchancment, together with permitting 1.21 PPP in isolation (eighth percentile) and 1.15 PPP defending pick-and-roll creators (third percentile). Opponents, nonetheless, shot 41.9% when guarded by Walker, some encouraging indicators alongside together with his 6-10 wingspan and athleticism.
Walker IV performed for Brooklyn on the veteran’s minimal after an uneven yr with the Lakers highlighted by his classic playoff efficiency in a Recreation 4 towards Golden State that vaulted LA to the Western Convention Finals. Earlier than that, he spent 4 years with the Spurs after they drafted him No. 18 total in 2018.
Derrick White and Walker IV performed greater than three seasons collectively in San Antonio. Walker IV joins Summer time League Celtics Ron Harper Jr. and Tristan Enaruna as coaching camp invitations. CLNS Media/CelticsBlog reported that the Celtics will possible signal Jay Scrubb to their twenty first and closing offseason roster spot by an Exhibit 10 contract after he recovers from ACL surgical procedure. Neither Scrubb nor Walker IV preclude the Celtics from going with an alternative choice as soon as camp ends, together with free agent Oshae Brissett.
The Celtics solely have minor roster flexibility earlier than the season begins. Jordan Walsh’s deal has roughly $2 million assured remaining. All three two-way slots may be modified at any time, although Walker IV is now not eligible for one. Jaden Springer’s one-year contract is value $4.0 million.
Staying with Maine, if Walker IV is waived, would earn him roughly $75,000 for spending 60 days there. Boston’s improvement program has made strides with each gamers altering their video games and hoping to bolster their protection. Walker IV may gain advantage from each if he’s keen to be affected person. The Celtics would don’t have any unique rights to retain him with the group, apart from that small bonus, in the event that they ship him to the G-League. Another workforce may signal him to an NBA contract at any time.
For what it’s value, minimal contracts are pro-rated, so the Celtics save in wage and luxurious tax by ready to signal a fifteenth man. They waited till Apr. 9 to transition Neemias Queta from a two-way to plain contract, solely assuming a $81,253 cap hit. Two-way contracts don’t carry a cap or tax hit.
