OT: Lonnie Walker, Updates

[Shak_Celts]

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

I thought the same at first but I think it’s the sun giving the black hair that effect on video.

[ConstableGeneva]

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But Walker is battling the luxury tax more than anything heading into training camp. Boston is deep enough into the tax that just signing a player to the full-season minimum is a luxury. Walker signed an Exhibit 10 contract, a non-guaranteed training camp deal that provides him a bonus of up to about $78,000 if he is waived and then signs a G League contract with the Maine Celtics.

The Celtics most likely want to keep that spot open and then eventually add a player later in the season. Unless Walker can prove to be such a dangerous shooter that they can’t live without him. Boston has had good health with its perimeter players the past few years, so it’s mostly prioritized veteran depth at the center position. If the Celtics pick up injuries for their non-centers, there are plenty of players they can sign short term to address that. But there are few free agents available during the year who can catch-and-shoot as well as Walker.

Walker’s camp invite may have something to do with Jordan Walsh’s summer league performance, where the second-year wing looked like he needed another year in Maine before being ready to see the floor. While Walsh projects to be a capable defender in the future once he catches up to NBA speed, Walker can at least defend without fouling now and provide floor spacing on offense.

This is also insurance against rookie Baylor Scheierman struggling to find a rhythm shooting the ball early on, in case the Celtics need someone at the end of the bench who they know can get his shot off. Jaden Springer is the other wing deep in their reserves, but he fills more of an on-ball role on both ends and is a far superior defender to everyone else fighting for playing time.

[VeryMuchWoke]

The big man equivalent of Lonnie is someone like Thomas Bryant or Christian Wood and those guys are overhyped and don't impact the game (positively) as much as people think. Would rather have defensive-minded bigs since scoring comes easy elsewhere on the team.

With a few exceptions, a big's impact is 70-80% on the defensive side of things. For the guard's it's the opposite, but not quite as extreme.

I'm not that familiar with Lonnie's defense, but big's that can't be at least average on defense are pretty much unplayable on championship teams.

[Shak_Celts]

I think if Lonnie shows, he will get a contract, even if it means a trade later. Assets. I know you’re thinking, if someone wanted him they could get him for free, but I don’t think it would be hard to trade him for a 2nd or two at worst, especially if year 2 is a team option, that could be valuable to a team. Unless year 2 is a player option automatically.


He’s also young and vet enough at the same time, if he’s good enough, we can lock him up for when the owners get tight in the pockets. Somebody has to get them near vet Min checks. I wouldn’t mind it going to the best version of Lonnie I have seen, except he needs to be more consistent.


In about 3 years, if we don’t get another chip, I could see a team of only Jays and White left. Maybe no JB. Then a mix of Rico, Walsh, Watson, Hauser, rookies from the 3 years etc.

Edit: I wonder how Brad does with moving guys who become PP/KG like, will he keep them until the value is gone, do like Danny, or will he let them go until retirement since they are champions. That’s going to be an interesting future.

[ConstableGeneva]

Sad pre-camp news. Walker lost his best friend (dunno the circumstances -- would be terrible if it's due to the move).



He went on to assure fans that he's okay and dedicated the season to him/her.

[Hal14]

The big man equivalent of Lonnie is someone like Thomas Bryant or Christian Wood and those guys are overhyped and don't impact the game (positively) as much as people think. Would rather have defensive-minded bigs since scoring comes easy elsewhere on the team.

With a few exceptions, a big's impact is 70-80% on the defensive side of things. For the guard's it's the opposite, but not quite as extreme.

I'm not that familiar with Lonnie's defense, but big's that can't be at least average on defense are pretty much unplayable on championship teams.

Yeah well if we're only comparing him to guys of same position, his equivalent is Will Barton.. or Terence Davis but Davis was a better defender..

[Hal14]

I think if Lonnie shows, he will get a contract, even if it means a trade later. Assets. I know you’re thinking, if someone wanted him they could get him for free, but I don’t think it would be hard to trade him for a 2nd or two at worst, especially if year 2 is a team option, that could be valuable to a team. Unless year 2 is a player option automatically.

Ya'll can correct me if I'm wrong, but if an exhibit 10 guys makes the team, it's automatically a 1 year (not 2), non-guaranteed contract (the type that Vonleh, Justin Jackson and Lamar Stevens had where mid season was a cutoff date where the rest of their contract became guaranteed if they were still on the roster but all 3 ended up as trade filler).

[ConstableGeneva]

The big man equivalent of Lonnie is someone like Thomas Bryant or Christian Wood and those guys are overhyped and don't impact the game (positively) as much as people think. Would rather have defensive-minded bigs since scoring comes easy elsewhere on the team.

With a few exceptions, a big's impact is 70-80% on the defensive side of things. For the guard's it's the opposite, but not quite as extreme.

I'm not that familiar with Lonnie's defense, but big's that can't be at least average on defense are pretty much unplayable on championship teams.

Yeah well if we're only comparing him to guys of same position, his equivalent is Will Barton.. or Terence Davis but Davis was a better defender..

The higher-tier versions: Malik Monk, Jordan Clarkson, Tim Hardaway Jr., Mathurin maybe?

[ConstableGeneva]

I think if Lonnie shows, he will get a contract, even if it means a trade later. Assets. I know you’re thinking, if someone wanted him they could get him for free, but I don’t think it would be hard to trade him for a 2nd or two at worst, especially if year 2 is a team option, that could be valuable to a team. Unless year 2 is a player option automatically.

Ya'll can correct me if I'm wrong, but if an exhibit 10 guys makes the team, it's automatically a 1 year (not 2), non-guaranteed contract (the type that Vonleh, Justin Jackson and Lamar Stevens had where mid season was a cutoff date where the rest of their contract became guaranteed if they were still on the roster but all 3 ended up as trade filler).

AFAIK, no 2nd-year option, correct.

[Hal14]

With a few exceptions, a big's impact is 70-80% on the defensive side of things. For the guard's it's the opposite, but not quite as extreme.

I'm not that familiar with Lonnie's defense, but big's that can't be at least average on defense are pretty much unplayable on championship teams.

Yeah well if we're only comparing him to guys of same position, his equivalent is Will Barton.. or Terence Davis but Davis was a better defender..

The higher-tier versions: Malik Monk, Jordan Clarkson, Tim Hardaway Jr., Mathurin maybe?

Agreed. In the higher tier would also be Jordan Poole, but heis developing some good playmaking ability in Washington so probably doesn't count.

I also probably would remove Mathurin, since he is so good at driving/drawing fouls, compared to the others. PLus he's still so young that we don't yet know what type of player or how good he will end up being..

[ConstableGeneva]

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[Dogen]

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Very Joe. Sort of like damning with faint praise.

Good take though. Instead of "OMG he's such a great scorer" it's more like, "yeah, we know you can get your own, but if you want to be on the floor with the Celtics as a role player you're gonna learn the sets, just like everybody else. No hero ball is required".

[Dogen]

With a few exceptions, a big's impact is 70-80% on the defensive side of things. For the guard's it's the opposite, but not quite as extreme.

I'm not that familiar with Lonnie's defense, but big's that can't be at least average on defense are pretty much unplayable on championship teams.

Yeah well if we're only comparing him to guys of same position, his equivalent is Will Barton.. or Terence Davis but Davis was a better defender..

The higher-tier versions: Malik Monk, Jordan Clarkson, Tim Hardaway Jr., Mathurin maybe?

Lonnie is my Moses Moody consolation prize.

[chrisab123]

Sad pre-camp news. Walker lost his best friend (dunno the circumstances -- would be terrible if it's due to the move).



He went on to assure fans that he's okay and dedicated the season to him/her.

Losing a dog is **** brutal. I hope he makes the team and crushes it.

[Fencer reregistered]

I hope it's the move, as that would imply the dog is still alive and he was being a bit overdramatic.

The alternative is the awful one.

Sad pre-camp news. Walker lost his best friend (dunno the circumstances -- would be terrible if it's due to the move).



He went on to assure fans that he's okay and dedicated the season to him/her.

Losing a dog is **** brutal. I hope he makes the team and crushes it.

[ConstableGeneva]

I hope it's the move, as that would imply the dog is still alive and he was being a bit overdramatic.

The alternative is the awful one.

Sad pre-camp news. Walker lost his best friend (dunno the circumstances -- would be terrible if it's due to the move).

Spoiler:

He went on to assure fans that he's okay and dedicated the season to him/her.

Losing a dog is **** brutal. I hope he makes the team and crushes it.

The dog's dead. I was concerned that the dog was unable to adjust to their new environment due to the move and got sick because of it.

[Shak_Celts]

I hope it's the move, as that would imply the dog is still alive and he was being a bit overdramatic.

The alternative is the awful one.

Losing a dog is **** brutal. I hope he makes the team and crushes it.

The dog's dead. I was concerned that the dog was unable to adjust to their new environment due to the move and got sick because of it.

Yep, she passed. He posted so many things, so sad.

[ConstableGeneva]

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[shackles10]

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Sounds like he's prepared to not have it work out. Which isn't a bad attitude to have at all in terms of focusing on his efforts instead of the outcomes. I'm still definitely hoping he makes the team though and have especially since I read about the abuse he encountered as a youth and how his previous hairstyle and the subsequent cutting of it off factored into all of that. I'll always root for those trying to overcome monster hurdles like that. I'm guilty, like most of us are, of letting small things ruin our days and be reasons why we don't accomplish things we set out to do. Those with real obstacles who can find great success are always very inspiring imo.

[ConstableGeneva]

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