The Boston Celtics have officially filled their final roster position by signing guard Lonnie Walker IV, as reported on Wednesday night.
Brad Stevens is making significant moves in the front office for the reigning champions, with Walker being among the top free agents available. Although Walker’s contract is reportedly an Exhibit 10 deal, which is a non-guaranteed contract serving primarily as an invitation to training camp, his addition to the roster represents a strong opportunity for the team.
At just 25 years old, Walker averaged 9.7 points per game in 58 appearances with the Brooklyn Nets last season, shooting 38.4 percent from beyond the arc. Selected in the first round of the 2018 NBA Draft by the San Antonio Spurs after playing at Miami, he spent four seasons with San Antonio before playing for the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2022-23 season.
In terms of career statistics, Walker holds an average of 9.8 points per game, with overall shooting at 42.2 percent and 35.6 percent from three-point range. If he secures a spot on the team, his skills in shooting and athleticism could earn him valuable minutes off the bench. His signing suggests that Oshae Brissett, who remains unsigned, is unlikely to return.
Brissett and Svi Mykhailuk, who recently signed with the Utah Jazz, are expected to be the only players from last season’s championship team not returning. Walker represents the only free-agent addition made by the Celtics this offseason, as Stevens has worked to retain almost the entire roster from the previous year.