It was a race in opposition to the clock for ex-Boston Celtics guard Lonnie Walker IV to land an NBA contract and with 24 hours left, the 26-year-old succeeded.
Walker signed a two-year, $3.7 million take care of the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday, in response to ESPN’s Shams Charania. Lithuania’s BC Žalgiris signed Walker following his temporary preseason run with the Celtics to a contract that included an opt-out clause, which was set to run out hours following Walker’s settlement with the Sixers.
The Celtics initially signed Walker in October to an Exhibit 10 contract, which is often reserved for journeymen gamers and under-the-radar hopefuls battling to show their value. Walker didn’t match that profile however as a consequence of Boston’s ongoing battle with the second apron — that means the franchise is subjected to a wage cap restrict — the Celtics couldn’t decide to a assured contract with the seven-year veteran. So whereas nothing was assured, together with Walker’s roster spot, the reigning champions sat again and watched him blossom amid his short-lived run with the C’s.
Walker made 4 preseason appearances, averaging 7.3 factors, 1.5 rebounds and a couple of.5 assists, taking pictures 42.9% from the ground. With 16.4 minutes per recreation to indicate out, Walker wasn’t granted a lot enjoying time however the artful, playmaking guard nonetheless garnered notable consideration from the crew and followers when given an opportunity. Walker scored 20 factors on 8-of-15 taking pictures in opposition to the Toronto Raptors throughout Boston’s second-to-final preseason matchup, making a robust case to remain aboard. Nevertheless it wasn’t sufficient.
“He had an incredible method,” Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla stated after Walker’s launch, per CLNS Media. “A man that’s been across the league a very long time and has seen totally different environments. Got here in together with his head down and simply wished to work and wished to have an understanding of what it’s to play our type of basketball on each ends of the ground. I assumed he did job of executing that within the time that he had. I assumed he did an incredible job being affected person, executing the position that we would have liked him to and I assumed he did job within the movie room, attempting to grasp our system on each ends of the ground.”
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Walker now joins a struggling Sixers franchise, at present present process an unsightly, setback-filled marketing campaign. Philadelphia entered the All-Star break because the eleventh seed within the Jap Convention at 20-34, unable to depend on veteran stars Joel Embiid and Paul George. Walker shouldn’t have any situation netting alternatives to work alongside beginning guard Tyrese Maxey because the Sixers flip the web page.
