Lonnie Walker IV spent 4 preseason video games with the Boston Celtics however left fairly the impression earlier than saying goodbye to the reigning champs.
Boston initially signed Walker to an Exhibit-10 contract, usually reserved for little-known journeymen, and the six-year veteran made the many of the alternative. Walker joined the Celtics for coaching camp and even reunited with former San Antonio Spurs teammate Derrick White. As soon as Walker’s name to motion arrived, the dynamic playmaker carried out and made the break up tough.
Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens, the truth is, contemplated a good more durable choice to maintain Walker aboard, per MassLive’s Brian Robb. The thought Stevens flirted with was procuring guard Jaden Springer round in a commerce that would alleviate the monetary complexities that prompted Boston to let Walker go. Springer is about to earn over $4 million this season whereas Walker’s veteran minimal had the Celtics on the hook for $2.1 million.
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The place Walker’s short-lived Celtics run grew to become difficult was inside the franchise’s (very) costly offseason. Boston spent a document $315 million to re-sign Jayson Tatum whereas additionally conserving Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, Jrue Vacation and Kristaps Porzingis to extensions that mix to price possession over $900 million. Not loads of wiggle room was left from that time ahead.
Stevens additionally signed reserve Sam Hauser to a $45 million extension and retained Luke Kornet and Xavier Tillman to maintain the championship roster nearly fully intact — Svi Mykhailiuk and Oshae Brissett had been the group’s solely losses to free company.
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On the one hand, Springer isn’t threatening the entrance workplace’s luxurious tax — the larger difficulty. Walker, even whereas slated to earn the veteran’s minimal, would’ve price the Celtics $10 million in luxurious taxes. Springer doesn’t present Boston any worth moreover ineffective rubbish time appearances. To date, the 22-year-old has logged 3.3 minutes throughout eight video games, scoring seven factors in whole.
Walker averaged 7.3 factors for the Celtics within the preseason, most notably scoring 20 factors and draining 4 3-pointers towards the Toronto Raptors at TD Backyard. It’s not far-fetched to think about Walker giving Boston a lot greater than Springer has proven since becoming a member of the group earlier than final 12 months’s NBA commerce deadline. Walker stays an possibility for everybody as he now could be a member of Žalgiris Kaunas of the Lithuanian Basketball League, .
Walker’s present EuroLeague contract features a buyout clause that might be exercised earlier than Feb. 18.
