Oct 12, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics guard Lonnie Walker IV (12) attempts a basket against Philadelphia 76ers center Adem Bona (30) during the second half at the TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images
Long-time NBA insider Marc Stein linked shooting guard Lonnie Walker IV to the Sixers on Sunday evening:
Lonnie Walker IV is drawing NBA interest and can be bought out of his Žalgiris contract in the EuroLeague by any NBA team until Feb. 18.
Potential suitors said to include Sixers, Wolves, Heat, Nuggets and Celtics. Walker went to camp with Boston.
More: https://t.co/IIIlAlphrN pic.twitter.com/XIgwtyrX6B— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) December 30, 2024
Walker, 26, did not stick with the Boston Celtics out of training camp and has since made his way to Zalgiris Kaunas of the Lithuanian Basketball League and the EuroLeague.
Walker was a five-star recruit out of Reading Senior High School and played his freshman season at the University of Miami before being selected by the San Antonio Spurs with the 18th pick in the 2018 draft. Following the expiration of his rookie contract, Walker spent his next two NBA seasons on one-year deals with the Los Angeles Lakers and Brooklyn Nets, respectively.
Through his six years of NBA experience, Walker has established himself as little more than a microwave scorer with immense vertical pop on downhill attacks. He's properly sized to play the shooting guard position. But, his shooting has never stabilized at a high enough level to recuse his lack of playmaking or general secondary skills.
Still, given the long-term absence of Jared McCain and the slope of the aging trend line the further you go down Philadelphia's roster, it only makes sense that the Sixers would have interest in a high-flying scorer with his best years ostensibly still in front of him.
From Walker's standpoint, this shouldn't come down to money in the short-term. His current status doesn't offer much of a bargaining chip at these negotiations and, at his age, Walker should be most concerned with finding a spot that will allow him to re-establish himself as someone who belongs in the NBA. In other words, all things equal (if everyone is offering veteran minimums), go where the most opportunity and exposure are.
The Sixers, who sorely lack guard depth, figure to offer that. And perhaps the only player capable of generating more open shots for him than Joel Embiid is Nikola Jokic.
But, there is something else for Walker to consider.
He's a Reading native. That's not exactly Philadelphia's backyard. But, it's within a reasonable distance for a union with the Sixers to be considered a homecoming of sorts. It would be the closest he's ever played to home at this level. There are Sixers of the not-too-distant past who would tell you that they were't ready to "come home" until they matured into their 30s. For a player of Walker's age, this may not be the right environment for him to fight for his NBA life in.
But, if the golden slipper fits right, the Sixers should jump at the chance to add some shooting, athleticism and youth to their program.
