As the Boston Celtics kick off the new NBA season as the defending champions, they’ve done everything right.
In the offseason, the Celtics locked up key contributors Jayson Tatum and fan favorite Derrick White to long-term deals. They retained sharpshooter Sam Hauser in free agency, and kept every member of its title-winning rotation, except for seldom-used forward Oshae Brissett. That type of continuity, which is rare for a defending champion and a roster as expensive as Boston’s, should help the team overcome the absence of big man Kristaps Porzingis, who is out until at least December.
Along with bringing back its top contributors, the Celtics have made signings around the edges to ensure it is well-equipped for another title run. Defending champions often have to gamble on unproven players to contribute when the team’s payroll becomes too high, and Boston has done exactly that. One of those gambles was signing Lonnie Walker, who signed an Exhibit 10 deal with the Celtics last month. Assuming Boston keeps him around, Walker could be one of the better value signings by any team this offseason, even if he doesn’t have a guaranteed roster spot.
What Lonnie does well
Walker’s skillset, on paper, should fit well with Boston. Head coach Joe Mazzulla’s offense focuses on getting quality looks from beyond the arc, something that Walker excels at. He shot over 38% from deep on 4.7 attempts per game for the Nets last season.
His offensive talent was on full display in the second round of the 2023 playoffs with the Los Angeles Lakers, when he poured in 15 points in the final frame.
It was his first time in the playoffs, but Walker shined, carrying the Lakers to a 104-101 win.
In last year’s postseason, Boston’s role players stepped up, like when backup Payton Pritchard hit one of the longest shots in NBA Finals history to beat the halftime buzzer. Walker IV proved with the Lakers he can be a reliable option for a team in the postseason, and could contribute similarly for Boston.
Will he make it?
Unfortunately, Walker might have a tough time making the roster. In the team’s first two preseason games, both wins against the Denver Nuggets in Abu Dhabi, he played just ten minutes while going 0-for-6 from the field. Whether its nerves or getting used to Boston’s system, it doesn’t bode well for his long-term outlook.
The cap situation for the Celtics will also be working against him, as Boston could pay almost $10 million in tax penalties by guaranteeing Walker’s spot on the roster. That shouldn’t matter though, because the brilliance of this move if Walker pans out will be long-term. Boston may not be able to find space for him now, but he could be a key bench piece down the line.
The Celtics won’t be able to keep all of their rotation long-term, especially not with the impending uncertainty of the franchise being available to purchase by a new ownership group. A lot of the NBA world will overlook this move from Boston now, but with Walker still only 25 years old, there’s plenty of time for this gamble to pay off for the defending champions— even if it doesn’t happen this season.
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