ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski unexpectedly reported that free agent guard Lonnie Walker IV has agreed to a one-year contract with the Boston Celtics. This contract is an Exhibit-10 deal, meaning it’s a one-year, non-guaranteed agreement.
Fans were largely surprised by this late summer acquisition by Celtics’ president Brad Stevens, as many expected Walker to have signed with a team earlier during the free agency period in June. With this signing, Boston’s roster for the upcoming season is nearly complete and closely resembles the squad that won the championship in June, minus Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk and Oshae Brissett.
At 25, Walker brings five years of NBA experience since being drafted in the first round by the San Antonio Spurs in 2018. His main contribution to Boston, should he make the final roster, would be his scoring ability. Standing at 6’4”, Walker is known for his offensive skills at all three levels. In the previous season, playing 58 games with the Brooklyn Nets, he averaged 9.7 points per game while shooting 42.3% from the field and an impressive 38.4% from three-point range on 4.7 attempts per game.
Walker’s confidence in shooting is evident when he has the ball, and joining the Celtics—whose offense is among the league’s best and where head coach Joe Mazzulla emphasizes three-point shooting—appears to be an ideal match. Walker’s readiness to take shots from beyond the arc, especially when defenders are slow to react, could make him a valuable asset to Boston’s offense.