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OT: Lonnie Walker, Updates

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Re: Welcome to (Maine at best), Lonnie Walker!!! 

Post#521 » by celtxman » Tue Oct 29, 2024 9:18 pm

Hal14 wrote:
celtxman wrote:Lonnie Walker did exactly what he needed to in preseason.

He did?

He made some decent passes. The defense was ok. Not great, but not terrible. His scoring was solid. But not his scoring efficiency..42% FG and 31% from 3. 51.8% TS. Those are poor numbers..he also had one of the lower +/- on the team.

Also keep in mind that only a small % of the work he did as a Celtic was made available for public consumption. What I mean is, he played in 4 preseason games. But he played in roughly 12 practices with the team. You add the 4 games + the 12 practices, that's 16 days he participated in basketball activities as a Celtic. But we only saw the 4 preseason games. We have no idea what went on at those 12 (or so) practices, we don't know how well he played, how hard he played, how quickly he was grasping our systems, schemes, etc. whcan can be pretty complex for a new player to learn.

So it's hard to say with such certainty that he did everything he needed to do..

celtxman wrote:He would have been fine on the Celtics. I believe this was about Walsh stepping up.

Surem Walsh's strong preseason may have factored in a little bit. But I think the bigger factor in Walker getting cut was money. They just didn't want to pay $11 mil (salary + taxes) for an 18th man.

And I say 18th because we already have 14 guys under contract for the standard roster, plus we had 3 2-way spots filled..and those 2-way spots don't count against the cap..they're basically free roster spots and all 3 of our 2-way guys have the potential to possibly contribute for the big club at some point this season.

Sure, you could try and say something like "oh but Lonnie is awesome! He's better than some of our end of bench guys - it's like paying for a 10th man instead of a 18th man"

To which I would say, "well kind of but not really since those other 14 guys are still under guaranteed contracts and the 3 2-way guys are freebie roster spots so at the end of the day, Walker is the guy who makes you go from 17 players to 18 so he would basically be the 18th man"


There is a lot to unpack with this. First there is a whole lot of people making comments with certainty on this board lol, so I'll clean this up. Yes I think there is little to no chance his practice or play had anything to do with him not being on the team. The two games he played at the end showed the offensive ability.
Also, I have taken it as a given that finances is involved. I'm just not sure how. Hal feel free to weigh in on this. Is it really too hard to move Springer on an expiring contract to a team below the cap?
Do they plan on giving Springer a chance? Are they valuing the $4 million Springer makes for a trade later?
If so, what kind of player that would be more useful than Walker?
All of these questions are relevant. If they signed Walker and got rid of Springer they would save millions. Is this team really considering drawing the line in the sand over $10 million (if this a serious number considering they can move people)?
And if we're looking ahead, if this team is really drawing a line in the sand, what about $50+ million we have to consider with Hauser. Could Walker be part of the solution replacing Hauser?
So putting it all together- Walsh played well enough in the preseason games, that they want to give him minutes and Walker could hold that up. I think there is flexibility no matter what, but it would be the easiest and cheapest if Walsh does well.
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Re: Welcome to (Maine at best), Lonnie Walker!!! 

Post#522 » by celtxman » Tue Oct 29, 2024 10:55 pm

Homerclease wrote:
165bows wrote:Worth reminding that Lonnie seems like a cool dude and has had a couple big moments but also has been a deeply inefficient scorer his entire career, and some of the defensive metrics shared in here are pretty gnarly.

Derrick White couldn’t hit the broadside of a barn from 3 point land before he came here, look at him now. Everyone thought Al was washed when he went to Philly and stunk up the joint before coming back. Jrue Holiday set career bests in shooting basically across the board in his first year here.

Yes. Which is why I don't buy the argument that he did (or didn't do) on the court. He did just fine and in this and with our coaching could thrive even if it's in a limited role. For now we'll see how this plays out.
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Re: Welcome to (Maine at best), Lonnie Walker!!! 

Post#523 » by ConstableGeneva » Wed Oct 30, 2024 10:17 pm

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Godspeed Lonnie. May he find his way back to the NBA at some point, or just be where he can play the game he loves wherever that may be.
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Re: Welcome to (Maine at best), Lonnie Walker!!! 

Post#524 » by GoCeltics123 » Wed Oct 30, 2024 10:36 pm

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Re: Welcome to (Maine at best), Lonnie Walker!!! 

Post#525 » by Bill Lumbergh » Wed Oct 30, 2024 10:46 pm

Makes sense. I never thought he'd ever even suit up for Maine. He's way too good for the g-league.
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Re: Welcome, to Lonnie Walker!!! (Update: Lonnie to Euroleague) 

Post#526 » by Hal14 » Thu Oct 31, 2024 3:09 am

Makes sense.

It's kind of the best of both worlds for Lonnie. He gets to go to the EuroLeague, which is the best, most competitive league in the world (outside of the NBA) where he can compete at a high level, get plenty of playing time (get more playing time and more consistent playing time than in NBA, won't have to worry about ever getting DNP's) while at the same time, going to a EuroLeague team that is *not* stacked with talent which means he'll have an opportunity to be *the* guy on that team, or at least one of *the* guys so he can shine more and have a bigger role.

Like if he went to Real Madrid or FC Barcelona, or Fenerbache, Monaco or Panathanaikos, or Bayern Munich, he would have maybe been just another guy. There were rumors that Real Madrid was trying to sign him..but I saw someone on Twitter say that if he went to Real Madrid, he'd only be like their 4th or 5th option.

He'll likely have a bigger role on Zalgiris - they don't have as much talent - especially at the guard/wing positions as some of the other EuroLeague teams.

Lonnie was quoted last season around the trade deadline saying he was hoping to find his forever home. So he probably doesn't want to keep bouncing around from team to team in the NBA, where he's a fringe guy who has to keep fighting for a roster spot or a rotation spot. There's been lots of guys who have been in a similar position, who then go overseas and find their forever home - they find a place where they can stay for awhile, make good money and get way more playing time.

Some of those guys are Shane Larkin, Vincent Poirier, Mario Hezonja, Edy Tavares, Nigel Hayes-Davis, Facundo Campazzo, Mike James, Mfiondu Kabengele, Semo Ojeleye, Nikola Mirotic, Georgios Papagiannis, Mike James, Gabriel Deck, Dzanan Musa, Juancho Hernangomez, Jabari Parker, Willy Hernangomez, Mthias Lessort, Carsen Edwards, Shabaz Napier, Tomas Satoransky, Kendrick Nunn, Luwawu-Cabarot, etc.

Then there's other guys who play overseas for a few years and play well enough over there that it earns them another shot in the NBA (Dante Exum, Yabusele, etc.) but it does seem like when guys go overseas they do usually stay there (some exceptions though like Exum and Yabusele)..

Also, it's probably for the best that he is going to EuroLeague instead of G league. EuroLeague you make more $, and it's a fairly significant step up in terms of competition level, level of play compared to the g league. EuroLeague is more physical, more defense, more ball movement. And G league has small crowds, sometimes quiet arenas with barely any fans. EuroLeague is PACKED arenas full of screaming fans going nuts - awesome atmosphere, way better atmosphere than g league.

EuroLeague games are really fun to watch, highly recommend ya;ll check some out if you haven't seen much (or any) of them..

Good luck, Lonnie!
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Re: Welcome, to Lonnie Walker!!! (Update: Lonnie to Euroleague) 

Post#527 » by Saint_Killa » Thu Oct 31, 2024 10:53 am

Guys, any feedback on Lonnie? What are his strengths, weaknesses, how he looked in preseason. Zalgiris fan here, looking for info what we're getting.
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Re: Welcome, to Lonnie Walker!!! (Update: Lonnie to Euroleague) 

Post#528 » by phincsfan » Thu Oct 31, 2024 12:36 pm

IMO, you won't see Walker suit up in the NBA again.
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Re: Welcome, to Lonnie Walker!!! (Update: Lonnie to Euroleague) 

Post#529 » by darrendaye » Thu Oct 31, 2024 12:41 pm

Saint_Killa wrote:Guys, any feedback on Lonnie? What are his strengths, weaknesses, how he looked in preseason. Zalgiris fan here, looking for info what we're getting.


Read the thread. Get a box of tissues. :wink:

But seriously, seems like a good guy and can score a bit and handle the rock. I'm sure you'll get responses....
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Re: Welcome, to Lonnie Walker!!! (Update: Lonnie to Euroleague) 

Post#530 » by phincsfan » Thu Oct 31, 2024 12:45 pm

Saint_Killa wrote:Guys, any feedback on Lonnie? What are his strengths, weaknesses, how he looked in preseason. Zalgiris fan here, looking for info what we're getting.


If you give him 20+mpg and 10fga's per game he statistically should give you 10ppg :D
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Re: Welcome, to Lonnie Walker!!! (Update: Lonnie to Euroleague) 

Post#531 » by ConstableGeneva » Thu Oct 31, 2024 7:24 pm

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This is worse than when KD chose the Warriors instead of us.
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Re: Welcome, to Lonnie Walker!!! (Update: Lonnie to Euroleague) 

Post#532 » by djFan71 » Thu Oct 31, 2024 7:38 pm

ConstableGeneva wrote:
Read on Twitter

This is worse than when KD chose the Warriors instead of us.

We better not see Zalgiris Kauna in the Finals.
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Re: Welcome, to Lonnie Walker!!! (Update: Lonnie to Euroleague) 

Post#533 » by Dogen » Thu Oct 31, 2024 8:45 pm

Saint_Killa wrote:Guys, any feedback on Lonnie? What are his strengths, weaknesses, how he looked in preseason. Zalgiris fan here, looking for info what we're getting.


You'll love him. And as long as the Celtics don't meet Zalgiris in the playoffs, you are welcome to stop by here any time. 8-)

BTW, what's up with the February 18 NBA buy out clause?

*you mean there's still a chance?*
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Re: Welcome, to Lonnie Walker!!! (Update: Lonnie to Euroleague) 

Post#534 » by Scoonie » Fri Nov 1, 2024 1:37 am

I can't believe that Jaden Springer and Baylor Scheierman are on our roster and Lonnie Walker isn't. Major miss.
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Re: Welcome, to Lonnie Walker!!! (Update: Lonnie to Euroleague) 

Post#535 » by Saint_Killa » Fri Nov 1, 2024 8:40 am

Dogen wrote:
Saint_Killa wrote:Guys, any feedback on Lonnie? What are his strengths, weaknesses, how he looked in preseason. Zalgiris fan here, looking for info what we're getting.


You'll love him. And as long as the Celtics don't meet Zalgiris in the playoffs, you are welcome to stop by here any time. 8-)

BTW, what's up with the February 18 NBA buy out clause?

*you mean there's still a chance?*


There's a 450 K buyout, I actually think if he plays decent, he'll be gone by Christmas :lol: :lol:
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Re: Welcome, to Lonnie Walker!!! (Update: Lonnie to Euroleague) 

Post#536 » by Hal14 » Fri Nov 1, 2024 1:16 pm

Scoonie wrote:I can't believe that Jaden Springer and Baylor Scheierman are on our roster and Lonnie Walker isn't. Major miss.

Then it's a miss by all 30 teams in the NBA, who all passed on offering Walker a roster spot..

This topic has already been discussed to death so I'll be brief - Springer and Scheierman have guaranteed contracts so they weren't going to get cut - especially not by a 2nd apron team.

Still, even with Springer and Scheierman we had an open roster spot that could have gone to Walker but the team chose to cut him instead..which simply means they're like the other 29 teams who all decided against signing Walker..
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Re: Welcome, to Lonnie Walker!!! (Update: Lonnie to Euroleague) 

Post#537 » by Dogen » Fri Nov 1, 2024 2:39 pm

We're just going to have to get used to possibly seeing gaudy numbers from Walker in Europe and Filipowski starting for Utah while Springer and Scheierman ride the bench here. But Walker and Filipowski likely would not be getting many minutes in Boston, either.
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Re: Welcome, to Lonnie Walker!!! (Update: Lonnie to Euroleague) 

Post#538 » by phincsfan » Fri Nov 1, 2024 3:00 pm

Dogen wrote:We're just going to have to get used to possibly seeing gaudy numbers from Walker in Europe and Filipowski starting for Utah while Springer and Scheierman ride the bench here. But Walker and Filipowski likely would not be getting many minutes in Boston, either.


I'm gonna try to catch Utah games because it's so true when players are given minutes they put up some type of numbers on paper but they may look sub-par getting those numbers.
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Re: Welcome, to Lonnie Walker!!! (Update: Lonnie to Euroleague) 

Post#539 » by Dogen » Fri Nov 1, 2024 5:59 pm

phincsfan wrote:
Dogen wrote:We're just going to have to get used to possibly seeing gaudy numbers from Walker in Europe and Filipowski starting for Utah while Springer and Scheierman ride the bench here. But Walker and Filipowski likely would not be getting many minutes in Boston, either.


I'm gonna try to catch Utah games because it's so true when players are given minutes they put up some type of numbers on paper but they may look sub-par getting those numbers.


Yeah, Utah is 0-5 so whatever Kyle does has to be evaluated under the conditions. Good teams will play the Jazz, let them get their numbers during the game, but walk off with the W when it matters. Baylor may have been putting up 4-5 threes per game already if he was drafted by Utah at #32.
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Re: Welcome, to Lonnie Walker!!! (Update: Lonnie to Euroleague) 

Post#540 » by Scoonie » Sat Nov 2, 2024 1:42 am

Hal14 wrote:
Scoonie wrote:I can't believe that Jaden Springer and Baylor Scheierman are on our roster and Lonnie Walker isn't. Major miss.

This topic has already been discussed to death so I'll be brief - Springer and Scheierman have guaranteed contracts so they weren't going to get cut - especially not by a 2nd apron team.

Still, even with Springer and Scheierman we had an open roster spot that could have gone to Walker but the team chose to cut him instead..which simply means they're like the other 29 teams who all decided against signing Walker..


Understood, my issue is that Springer and Scheierman got guaranteed contracts in the first place. My educated guess is that neither of those guys will ever be better in the future than Lonnie Walker is right now.

I have to think that Walker will be back in the NBA at some point this season. He's too good of a player to be out of the league.
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