OT: Lonnie Walker, Updates

[Homerclease]

I don't think we're the ones taking a chance.

The entire league is furious that the Celtics signed a solid rotation player for a song.

Every other team could have signed him but they chose not to. I don't think they;'re furious.

I think the only ones furious are *fans* of other teams who think Walker is better than he is, due to fancy highlights, PPG and good 3 FG% last season.

Gotta say, after seeing you talk up literally everybody the Celtics have had interest in, I'm a bit surprised to see that Lonnie Walker IV is the guy you finally chose to crap on.

This is a great signing. No downside.

Because clearly Lonnie Walker is no Yam Madar, Moses Brown or Anton Watson.

[Hal14]

Good signing.

It's guaranteed or E10? it would be weird that walker had to accept an E10.

Exhibit 10.

It';s's kind of weird he had to sign an exhibit 10 i guess. But maybe he's not as good as many people think he is.

Lamar Stevens was a rotation player for the 4 seed Cavs a couple years ago and had to sign a camp deal with us. Wenyen Gabriel got rotation mins for a lakers team that made WCF and then signed camp deal with us - it happens..

[shackles10]

Forget who is on the roster he might leapfrog, if we could have traded Lonnie Walker for Oshae last year would you have done it? I'm pretty sure I would have (Oshae's size and rebounding would be my only hesitation at all). If we could have traded Walker for Svi would you have done it? Absolutely. He's not a perfect player so I get the inclination to pump the brakes, but we're not asking him to replace JT or JB either so great move.

Not a lot of room for improvement with this roster but we've somehow found a way to do it through the draft (despite having only a late first and 2nds to work with) and with the Walker signing. Keep making Indiana look good Brad...

[Hal14]

I don't think we're the ones taking a chance.

The entire league is furious that the Celtics signed a solid rotation player for a song.

Every other team could have signed him but they chose not to. I don't think they;'re furious.

I think the only ones furious are *fans* of other teams who think Walker is better than he is, due to fancy highlights, PPG and good 3 FG% last season.

Gotta say, after seeing you talk up literally everybody the Celtics have had interest in, I'm a bit surprised to see that Lonnie Walker IV is the guy you finally chose to crap on.

This is a great signing. No downside.

I'm not crapping on anybody. And I haven't talked up "literally everyone the Celtics have had interest in". Both of those statements are hyperbole.

I've said quite a few positive things in this thread about walker and about the signing. I said it was a good signing.

I didn't say there was a downside to the signing. Just that I don't think the entire league is furious that we signed him, as you said..

[Gant]

Walker probably makes the team and completes the 15 man roster. The starters had a short offseason and should be resting some. Brissett leaves 630 bigger-than-his-height minutes to fill.

Guard is all set. Center is four deep even without Porzingis. The only position with a possible job opportunity is power forward, especially considering Tillman's knee and Horford's age.

Anton Watson could just maybe play a little bit here and there. If he's ready, Watson fills a need for that Brissett floor time.

[shackles10]

Every other team could have signed him but they chose not to. I don't think they;'re furious.

I think the only ones furious are *fans* of other teams who think Walker is better than he is, due to fancy highlights, PPG and good 3 FG% last season.

Gotta say, after seeing you talk up literally everybody the Celtics have had interest in, I'm a bit surprised to see that Lonnie Walker IV is the guy you finally chose to crap on.

This is a great signing. No downside.

AI'm not crapping on anybody. And I haven't talked up "literally everyone the Celtics have had interest in". Both of those statements are hyperbole.

I've said quite a few positive things in this thread about walker and about the signing. I said it was a good signing.

However, many people on here and on twitter seem to be overhyping Walker and are so confused why he would have to sign an exhibit 10 deal. So I simply provided some clarification for them..

Eh let them have their fun lol. It's nice to have NBA Twitter be jealous of the defending champion Boston Celtics

[Hal14]

Forget who is on the roster he might leapfrog, if we could have traded Lonnie Walker for Oshae last year would you have done it? I'm pretty sure I would have (Oshae's size and rebounding would be my only hesitation at all). If we could have traded Walker for Svi would you have done it? Absolutely. He's not a perfect player so I get the inclination to pump the brakes, but we're not asking him to replace JT or JB either so great move.

Not a lot of room for improvement with this roster but we've somehow found a way to do it through the draft (despite having only a late first and 2nds to work with) and with the Walker signing. Keep making Indiana look good Brad...

Walker, Banton, Lamar Stevens, Svi and Brissett were all free agents last summer.

The nets signed Walker. We signed the other guys.

[shackles10]

Forget who is on the roster he might leapfrog, if we could have traded Lonnie Walker for Oshae last year would you have done it? I'm pretty sure I would have (Oshae's size and rebounding would be my only hesitation at all). If we could have traded Walker for Svi would you have done it? Absolutely. He's not a perfect player so I get the inclination to pump the brakes, but we're not asking him to replace JT or JB either so great move.

Not a lot of room for improvement with this roster but we've somehow found a way to do it through the draft (despite having only a late first and 2nds to work with) and with the Walker signing. Keep making Indiana look good Brad...

Walker, Banton, Lamar Stevens, Svi and Brissett were all free agents last summer.

The nets signed Walker. We signed the other guys.

True. I don't think it was a matter of preference for us though since we're signing him this summer while the others are all gone, and it's been reported we inquired about Walker at the deadline as well. I think last year those guys were willing to take a bet on yourself contract and Walker wanted to get more playing time and opportunities on the Nets. Can't blame either mindset, but sounds like Walker has either changed his tune or thinks he can bet on himself and still be part of a winning roster in Boston instead of a treadmill team with an easier path to minutes. If he felt that last year, I think it's at least reasonable to think he would have been signed instead.

[djFan71]

Prior Walkers Kemba and Antoine both wore #8. Too bad Porzingis is using it now. Toine also used #88, now being worn by Queta. #28 is available. And #12 was vacated by Oshae.

They could just probably share it. Unlikely they combine for 82 games.
If it said Walker on the back, that might be appropriate for KP's mobility when he comes back. It might be a slightly loose fit on Lonnie, though.

[shackles10]

Prior Walkers Kemba and Antoine both wore #8. Too bad Porzingis is using it now. Toine also used #88, now being worn by Queta. #28 is available. And #12 was vacated by Oshae.

They could just probably share it. Unlikely they combine for 82 games.
If it said Walker on the back, that might be appropriate for KP's mobility when he comes back. It might be a slightly loose fit on Lonnie, though.

and 1 for the "walker" joke.

[celtxman]

Just about impossible not to like this signing. A possible top 10 player in the rotation, gotten with no risk.

[Dogen]

Prior Walkers Kemba and Antoine both wore #8. Too bad Porzingis is using it now. Toine also used #88, now being worn by Queta. #28 is available. And #12 was vacated by Oshae.

KP seems like the kind of guy that would change numbers just for the lulz of a third Walker #8.

[winsomme2]

Good signing.

It's guaranteed or E10? it would be weird that walker had to accept an E10.

Exhibit 10.

It';s's kind of weird he had to sign an exhibit 10 i guess. But maybe he's not as good as many people think he is.

Lamar Stevens was a rotation player for the 4 seed Cavs a couple years ago and had to sign a camp deal with us. Wenyen Gabriel got rotation mins for a lakers team that made WCF and then signed camp deal with us - it happens..

Maybe he just wanted to play for the Celtics and this was how he could do it.

I have always liked him as a player and wanted us to trade for him last year at the deadline. He is a really strong finisher at the rim which is something that we could use off the bench and he can hold his own defensively which should get him some playing time. Plus, he's solid from three too.

[Dogen]

Nice take from a non-Celtics source of what we're getting in Walker IV. I'm not too concerned about his defense or anything in particular beyond having a wing with decent athleticism and size that has the ability to create his own shot and go heat check mode.

Lonnie is still young and can improve his defense, especially in limited minutes. If he sticks with the team he could certainly move into an 8 or 9th spot in the rotation.

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[Dogen]

Good signing.

It's guaranteed or E10? it would be weird that walker had to accept an E10.

Exhibit 10.

It';s's kind of weird he had to sign an exhibit 10 i guess. But maybe he's not as good as many people think he is.

Lamar Stevens was a rotation player for the 4 seed Cavs a couple years ago and had to sign a camp deal with us. Wenyen Gabriel got rotation mins for a lakers team that made WCF and then signed camp deal with us - it happens..

Maybe he just wanted to play for the Celtics and this was how he could do it.

I have always liked him as a player and wanted us to trade for him last year at the deadline. He is a really strong finisher at the rim which is something that we could use off the bench and he can hold his own defensively which should get him some playing time. Plus, he's solid from three too.

That's a great point. I was very high on Gabriel, and Stevens too. Maybe it's a Celtics system thing, but Gabriel looked really lost in his limited time. Stevens looked pretty average, one dimensional. Svi and Banton were non-factors.

I think Walker will fare better, but who knows? At least he's on the E10, so the team can vet him before full commit. I'm rooting for him though, he seems like a good locker room guy and someone that can get hot but not just be a hired gun that needs the ball all the time to be effective.

[playa-hater]

Wow.. Hate that I am the last one almost to see this news. I wanted Walker at last trade deadline for up to 2 2nds.. Like him more than Springer.. Mainly because he fits his potential Role as a make you payer for trapping Tatum/Brown.

But how the hell is going to get steady playing time?? so many players behind our starting 7 man rotation that can play..

[GoCeltics123]

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[playa-hater]

For the record, I like Scheierman as our draft pick But I was leaning on drafting Kyle Filipowski at 30.. With the signing of another good Wing in Walker (My opinion), I think I want Kyle Filipowski even more now. I feel like Scheierman won't even get a chance. And with KP out and very unreliable it is really a stretch to say by next year Kyle Filipowski could turn out to be our best center?? Can't say that about Scheierman at his position.

[Gant]

Wow.. Hate that I am the last one almost to see this news. I wanted Walker at last trade deadline for up to 2 2nds.. Like him more than Springer.. Mainly because he fits his potential Role as a make you payer for trapping Tatum/Brown.

But how the hell is going to get steady playing time?? so many players behind our starting 7 man rotation that can play..

His path to floor time is there if White and especially Holiday get less minutes and more time off in the early season due to needing rest. It wouldn't be a surprise if this was a factor in his decision to come to Boston and was discussed between Walker, his agent, and the Celtics.

Beyond that, there's Brissett minutes to fill. Some of those could trickle to the guard position with occasional smaller lineups.

Steady playing time though? That isn't guaranteed. But this late in the free agent game, he may be prioritizing other things.

[Memokerobi]

Wonder if this is because they are exploring moving Springer and his $4M contract