As reported by Shams Charania, the Boston Celtics have officially waived Lonnie Walker IV. The 25-year-old guard had an impressive preseason that impressed many Celtics’ fans, but it was not enough to earn a spot on the 15-man roster. Lonnie Walker IV was signed to an E10 contract, so now he can either accept a bonus and sign with Boston’s G-League affiliate, the Maine Celtics, or he can become a free agent and try to sign with another team.
Lonnie Walker IV’s Time In Boston
Lonnie Walker IV had a successful preseason before the Celtics waived him. He averaged 7.3 points per game, which is serviceable but also undermines how well Walker played when given significant minutes. In the Boston Celtics’ first two preseason games in Abu Dhabi, Walker only played 11 total minutes with 0 points. He also did not play in the Celtics’ final preseason game. But Walker played well in the two preseason games where he got significant minutes. Against the Philadelphia 76ers, Walker played 25 minutes and scored 9 points on 4-of-7 shooting with 4 rebounds and 7 assists.
Then, in the following game against the Toronto Raptors, Lonnie Walker IV had 20 points on 8-of-15 shooting in 30 minutes. So, in the two games where Walker played over eight minutes, he scored and shot the ball efficiently. But Walker was also an extremely hard worker. The reason Walker originally signed for the Boston Celtics was for the opportunity. Walker wanted to prove himself and be a contributor on a championship team. It didn’t matter what role he played; he just wanted to work. With his roster spot up in the air, Lonnie Walker IV was often the last player to leave the gym.
It is clear that even though he signed an E10 contract, Walker was motivated and ready to work. Boston Celtics’ coach Joe Mazzulla spoke fondly of Walker’s work ethic, saying he “Came in with his head down and just wanted to work and wanted to have an understanding of what it is to play our style of basketball… I thought he did a good job of executing that in the time that he had.”
Walker IV’s Next Steps
After a good preseason and much speculation, Lonnie Walker IV has options for his next destination. As part of his E10 contract, Walker could take a bonus from the Celtics and play in the G-League. While the G-League could be deemed as a demotion, it does allow Walker the opportunity to be called back up to the Boston Celtics in case of injuries or roster moves during the season. However, it is also reasonable for Walker to not feel loyalty to a team that just waived him when many NBA teams could use a player like him on their roster immediately.
Throughout his career, Lonnie Walker IV has been a valuable role player for multiple teams. This past season with the Brooklyn Nets, Walker averaged 9.7 points per game on 38.4% three-point shooting. He also spent a season with the Los Angeles Lakers, averaging 11.7, and four seasons with the San Antonio Spurs before that. Walker is still only 25 years old and a proven contributor on multiple teams. It is hard to believe that there is no place for him on an NBA 15-man roster if that is what he desires.
Final Thoughts
The Boston Celtics waived Lonnie Walker IV despite his quality of play during the preseason. Now, Walker can either take a bonus and play in the G-League for the Maine Celtics or sign with another team. No matter what Walker does, this short stint in Boston displayed his work ethic, which can go a long way.
