OT: Lonnie Walker, Updates

[165bows]

I think if Walker doesn't get a guaranteed offer anywhere (including from the Celtics), he'll be cool joining Maine with an opportunity to be with the big club later on on a pro-rated contract.

I still can't believe he doesn't have a real offer elsewhere (he's good enough to start or be the 6th man for a few teams that don't have higher aspirations). So maybe he really wants to join the Cs program.

My guess is he didn't get any clear guarantee of a roster spot/$ anywhere, so that the C's offer became competitive. It does seem like a decent bet he may get some Maine time this year if nothing else materializes, which if he does he will prob kill it there.

[ConstableGeneva]

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Springer is Oshae's mini-me. I'm not that high on Walker either. Your defense is only as strong as your weakest link. Everyone on our top 8 or 9 last season could hold their own. If Lonnie's individual & team defense doesn't take a step forward/up, I don't think he makes the team/rotation. He's not great/potent enough on offense (S/O IT and Kemba!) that you change your defensive principles/coverages every time he steps on the floor.

[shackles10]

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Springer is Oshae's mini-me. I'm not that high on Walker either. Your defense is only as strong as your weakest link. Everyone on our top 8 or 9 last season could hold their own. If Lonnie's individual & team defense doesn't take a step forward/up, I don't think he makes the team/rotation. He's not great/potent enough on offense (S/O IT and Kemba!) that you change your defensive principles/coverages every time he steps on the floor.

I don't disagree on Lonnie needing to step up his defense at all, but the Tweet (not your post) is a little over the top. I'm not saying Oshae is a bad defender, but even in that clip it was 16 seconds in a throw away game against the Jazz where Hauser and Oshae are playing in the first quarter rotation (very unusual) and it was already a 13 point game with us doubling up the Jazz. You or I might be able be 5th man in that video's scenario.

[Hal14]

I mean, you could find like 50 other clips of Oshae making nice plays that show his hustle/energy/defense/rebounding, including the meaningful mins he played in the ECF.

That was obviously not the only good play Oshae made all season.

Agreed with Constable that Springer can maybe be a smaller version of Oshae (with upside to be even better over time, since he's only 21, whereas Oshae was 25 last season).

[shackles10]

I mean, you could find like 50 other clips of Oshae making nice plays that show his hustle/energy/defense/rebounding.

That was obviously not the only good play Oshae made all season.

Very true. Both players have highlight vids though is all I'm saying (Lonnie on the offensive side and Oshae on the defensive side). I just don't think we're going to see us lose any games because we don't have Oshae and have Lonnie instead if it works out that way. Tillman cut Oshae out of the rotation and he's back this year fwiw anyways, and Oshae knows that. It's a big reason why he declined his option because him leaving was his call not the team's anyways...

[ConstableGeneva]

If Bulls aren't going anywhere, trading for Torrey Craig (or someone similar) if that 15th spot is still open by February could be an option. Cs just had the best offensive rating in NBA history and top 2 TS% all-time (this with Jays not shooting 3s at a high clip). I personally don't think we need more offense esp not at the expense of core principles like ball movement, "making the right play", and defense. (I do think our offense still has room to improve internally.)

I don't mind having Lonnie Walker on the roster. I'm just not that high on him actually making our top 8/9 playoff rotation or making anyone on current roster expendable. Same applies to Scheierman sadly (I was a fan before seeing him in SL!).

EDIT: No idea if Torrey Craig is actually a good defender lol but he looks the part. Anyway, 3&D wing is more of a need for me than a "bench scorer".

[Smart2Nesmith43]

If Bulls aren't going anywhere, trading for Torrey Craig (or someone similar) if that 15th spot is still open by February could be an option. Cs just had the best offensive rating in NBA history and top 2 TS% all-time (this with Jays not shooting 3s at a high clip). I personally don't think we need more offense esp not at the expense of core principles like ball movement, "making the right play", and defense. (I do think our offense still has room to improve internally.)

I don't mind having Lonnie Walker on the roster. I'm just not that high on him actually making our top 8/9 playoff rotation or making anyone on current roster expendable. Same applies to Scheierman sadly (I was a fan before seeing him in SL!).

EDIT: No idea if Torrey Craig is actually a good defender lol but he looks the part. Anyway, 3&D wing is more of a need for me than a "bench scorer".

If you want someone to make the right play Torrey Craig is not your guy.

Watch on YouTube

He did go above and beyond to keep the ball moving on that play to be fair.

[ConstableGeneva]

If Bulls aren't going anywhere, trading for Torrey Craig (or someone similar) if that 15th spot is still open by February could be an option. Cs just had the best offensive rating in NBA history and top 2 TS% all-time (this with Jays not shooting 3s at a high clip). I personally don't think we need more offense esp not at the expense of core principles like ball movement, "making the right play", and defense. (I do think our offense still has room to improve internally.)

I don't mind having Lonnie Walker on the roster. I'm just not that high on him actually making our top 8/9 playoff rotation or making anyone on current roster expendable. Same applies to Scheierman sadly (I was a fan before seeing him in SL!).

EDIT: No idea if Torrey Craig is actually a good defender lol but he looks the part. Anyway, 3&D wing is more of a need for me than a "bench scorer".

If you want someone to make the right play Torrey Craig is not your guy.

Watch on YouTube

He did go above and beyond to keep the ball moving on that play to be fair.

Do you have any more examples? 'Cos anyone including our stars have been involved in a Shaqtin-a-fool-worthy moment or two in their career.

[Smart2Nesmith43]

If Bulls aren't going anywhere, trading for Torrey Craig (or someone similar) if that 15th spot is still open by February could be an option. Cs just had the best offensive rating in NBA history and top 2 TS% all-time (this with Jays not shooting 3s at a high clip). I personally don't think we need more offense esp not at the expense of core principles like ball movement, "making the right play", and defense. (I do think our offense still has room to improve internally.)

I don't mind having Lonnie Walker on the roster. I'm just not that high on him actually making our top 8/9 playoff rotation or making anyone on current roster expendable. Same applies to Scheierman sadly (I was a fan before seeing him in SL!).

EDIT: No idea if Torrey Craig is actually a good defender lol but he looks the part. Anyway, 3&D wing is more of a need for me than a "bench scorer".

If you want someone to make the right play Torrey Craig is not your guy.

Watch on YouTube

He did go above and beyond to keep the ball moving on that play to be fair.

Do you have any more examples? 'Cos anyone including our stars have been involved in a Shaqtin-a-fool-worthy moment or two in their career.

The problem is not ending up on Shaqtin, I don't care if he throws down the best dunk of all time here. The problem is thinking that doing a self alley oop when running a three on zero break is the appropriate play. At least with Tatum I've never questioned if he would pick trying to look cool in game over winning.

[Hal14]

If Torrey Craig was a free agent, I could see us possibly signing him to an exhibit 10 and competing with Lonnie for the 15th spot in training camp.

But he's under contract this season with the Bulls. I don't see us trading assets for a guy who's about to turn 34 yrs old and wouldn't play much here.

I think at this point, it's either Lonnie for the 15th spot or we keep the 15th spot open. It'll depend on how Lonnie looks in training camp/preseason..and if Brad thinks that the value he would bring is outweighs the flexibility we gain by leaving 15h spot open and is worth spending that extra money (almost $10 mil in additional taxes)

I hope we keep LOnnie for that 15th spot. I'm not as high on him as many C's fans are but as I mentioned when we first signed him, I think that literally the only thing this squad was lacking is the thing that Lonnie brings (nice combination of size, athleticism, shooting and shot creation off the bench at the SG/SF spot). And hey, it's not my money so why not spend it lol.

[ConstableGeneva]

If you want someone to make the right play Torrey Craig is not your guy.

Watch on YouTube

He did go above and beyond to keep the ball moving on that play to be fair.

Do you have any more examples? 'Cos anyone including our stars have been involved in a Shaqtin-a-fool-worthy moment or two in their career.

The problem is not ending up on Shaqtin, I don't care if he throws down the best dunk of all time here. The problem is thinking that doing a self alley oop when running a three on zero break is the appropriate play. At least with Tatum I've never questioned if he would pick trying to look cool in game over winning.

It's one play, man. You defined the player's mindset/character and eligibility to become part of the Celtics on one fricking play? He didn't even know Drummond was behind him. AD's fault through and through. It's not dissimilar to someone throwing a windmill dunk or between the legs dunk on a fastbreak play. It's not that serious. As to Tatum, yeah, probably not.

Does he set screens for other guys? Is he in the right spots? Does he take away the ball from the guys that should have more of it? Does he crash the glass? Does he make multiple efforts on defense? Don't really care if he makes a ridiculous highlight attempt on a fastbreak one time in his career.

[ConstableGeneva]

Anyway, you guys got stuck with the name/example rather than the player archetype. Want a wing defender who can shoot, play 3/4, and hit some open shots if one becomes available more than Lonnie Walker (if 15th spot is to be filled).

I know it's literally Hauser at this point but I want another one of that kind but maybe someone bigger/stronger.

[shackles10]

Anyway, you guys got stuck with the name/example rather than the player archetype. Want a wing defender who can shoot, play 3/4, and hit some open shots if one becomes available more than Lonnie Walker (if 15th spot is to be filled).

I know it's literally Hauser at this point but I want another one of that kind but maybe someone bigger/stronger.

1000% agree on that would be a great addition, but also I have zero clue who that player would be lol.

[Hal14]

Anyway, you guys got stuck with the name/example rather than the player archetype. Want a wing defender who can shoot, play 3/4, and hit some open shots if one becomes available more than Lonnie Walker (if 15th spot is to be filled).

I know it's literally Hauser at this point but I want another one of that kind but maybe someone bigger/stronger.

1000% agree on that would be a great addition, but also I have zero clue who that player would be lol.

And I doubt a player who can do all of that is coming here for a minimum contract.

Sounds like Dorian Finney-Smith, OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges or Jaden Mcdaniels is being described.

[shackles10]

Anyway, you guys got stuck with the name/example rather than the player archetype. Want a wing defender who can shoot, play 3/4, and hit some open shots if one becomes available more than Lonnie Walker (if 15th spot is to be filled).

I know it's literally Hauser at this point but I want another one of that kind but maybe someone bigger/stronger.

1000% agree on that would be a great addition, but also I have zero clue who that player would be lol.

And I doubt a player who can do all of that is coming here for a minimum contract.

Sounds like Dorian Finney-Smith, OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges or Jaden Mcdaniels..

Duece Tatum in 15 years...

[ConstableGeneva]

Anyway, you guys got stuck with the name/example rather than the player archetype. Want a wing defender who can shoot, play 3/4, and hit some open shots if one becomes available more than Lonnie Walker (if 15th spot is to be filled).

I know it's literally Hauser at this point but I want another one of that kind but maybe someone bigger/stronger.

1000% agree on that would be a great addition, but also I have zero clue who that player would be lol.

And I doubt a player who can do all of that is coming here for a minimum contract.

Sounds like Dorian Finney-Smith, OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges or Jaden Mcdaniels..

Not a ton of examples but there have been instances of it... You gave four examples of the expensive ones. Here are four that teams had signed for cheap and worked out well enough:
Batum 2021, Caleb Martin 2021, DJJ 2024, OPJ 2022. Bonus: Hauser 2024.

Brad's job is to identify who that next one is (maybe even via trade, maybe even a two-way signing initially)... BTW, Boston was on DJJ's shortlist last offseason before he chose Dallas.

[Smart2Nesmith43]

It's one play, man. You defined the player's mindset/character and eligibility to become part of the Celtics on one fricking play? He didn't even know Drummond was behind him. AD's fault through and through. It's not dissimilar to someone throwing a windmill dunk or between the legs dunk on a fastbreak play. It's not that serious. As to Tatum, yeah, probably not.

Does he set screens for other guys? Is he in the right spots? Does he take away the ball from the guys that should have more of it? Does he crash the glass? Does he make multiple efforts on defense? Don't really care if he makes a ridiculous highlight attempt on a fastbreak one time in his career.

I took that play as an example because it was so egregious I didn't think I would have to expand on it. How about game 7 between the Nuggets and the Jazz ? Nuggets up two with the shot clock turned off and instead of letting the clock run out he decides to take (and miss) a layup giving Utah an opportunity to win the series. There are other examples but I don't feel like writing a thesis on Torrey Craig. Trust me he is not a good decision maker (as illustrated by the fact he averages an assist per game in his career).

I don't even hate the guy. I think he plays hard defensively and he is a legit NBA player. Just not in Boston where his fit with the rest of the roster is questionable. I personally feel like the Jays' weakest part of their games is their playmaking (although they have taken huge steps forward recently) so I think putting good decision makers around them is key. Craig doesn't fit that bill at all.

I do agree about the larger point regarding unearthing an extra 3/4 wing that can defend and shoot a little. It's just hard to see who it could be this late in the offseason. Does Covington have anything left in the tank ? Probably not.

[ConstableGeneva]

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Hopefully not a very short one?

[redslastlaugh]

Does Lonnie Walker have grey in his beard? What? He was in the 2018 draft class with Luka and SGA, what the H?

[ConstableGeneva]

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