OT: Lonnie Walker, Updates

[Dogen]

Is Lonnie better than an open roster spot. That’s what he needs to prove.

I think he has a chance, but needs to prove it on D.
A part of me would rather that any minutes he would get go to Springer and Walsh…but I also I could see him winning some games with his scoring.
I am pretty torn, but good to have options.

For a coach that tends to play 8-9 guys, it's a tough road for those on the outside looking in.

With KP back, there is Al, Sam, Payton at 6-8. Probably X as ninth man.

That 10th spot could be on an as need basis. Walsh, Springer or Walker depending on the need. There will likely be more rest games this season for Tatum, White, Holiday, maybe Brown. Having a few guys to fill in on is always good, and Walsh, Springer, Walker have complimentary skills depending on the matchup. Walker is more of a hired gun, but he showed against Philly that he can dish it out a bit too.

[165bows]

Is Lonnie better than an open roster spot. That’s what he needs to prove.

I think he has a chance, but needs to prove it on D.
A part of me would rather that any minutes he would get go to Springer and Walsh…but I also I could see him winning some games with his scoring.
I am pretty torn, but good to have options.

For a coach that tends to play 8-9 guys, it's a tough road for those on the outside looking in.

With KP back, there is Al, Sam, Payton at 6-8. Probably X as ninth man.

That 10th spot could be on an as need basis. Walsh, Springer or Walker depending on the need. There will likely be more rest games this season for Tatum, White, Holiday, maybe Brown. Having a few guys to fill in on is always good, and Walsh, Springer, Walker have complimentary skills depending on the matchup. Walker is more of a hired gun, but he showed against Philly that he can dish it out a bit too.

Great thing from a team perspective is if he hits as a bench guy they can put him on a Tillman kind of contract, vet min for 2-3 years kind of thing.

[celtxman]

I realistically think the Celtics will keep the roster at 14. To me that leaves Springer, Walsh, and Walker for 2 spots ( with a dark horse option of trading Scheierman.)
I think you keep Walker and make a decision between Walsh and Springer.

[bucknersrevenge]

I realistically think the Celtics will keep the roster at 14. To me that leaves Springer, Walsh, and Walker for 2 spots ( with a dark horse option of trading Scheierman.)
I think you keep Walker and make a decision between Walsh and Springer.

I highly doubt Brad is looking at a trade right now. No reason to keep it at 14. We can make a trade at the deadline if something catastrophic comes up but otherwise, we already know who's gonna play in the playoffs.

[Hal14]

Is Lonnie better than an open roster spot. That’s what he needs to prove.

I think he has a chance, but needs to prove it on D.
A part of me would rather that any minutes he would get go to Springer and Walsh…but I also I could see him winning some games with his scoring.
I am pretty torn, but good to have options.

He has been below league average TS% every year of his career. So he's more likely to shoot us out of games than win us games with his scoring.

He has looked pretty good these past couple of games though.

I'd give him the 15th spot, but it's not my money..

[Hal14]

I realistically think the Celtics will keep the roster at 14. To me that leaves Springer, Walsh, and Walker for 2 spots ( with a dark horse option of trading Scheierman.)
I think you keep Walker and make a decision between Walsh and Springer.

Walsh and Springer have guaranteed contracts - they're not getting cut.

The only ones who might get cut are the exhibit 10 guys (walker, Dmytro, Harper, Scrubb)

[Bill Lumbergh]

I don't think you can find a more talented guy for the minimum. Positionally, I thought that a bigger wing like we had in Brissett would be a bigger need, but clearly that ship has sailed. I'm all for keeping Walker for the year. It could even afford Jaylen the possibilty of a reduced load or be a bit of short term injury insurance if Jaylen turned an ankle or something.

[Triple M]

His athleticism could be a nice dimension to our bench. I get the idea of him learning the system in Maine while getting reps but i cant see how he doesn't make someone's rotation down the line, so i definitely would keep him around. He is already progressing quickly and looking better in the system than the Abu Dhabi games.

[celtxman]

I realistically think the Celtics will keep the roster at 14. To me that leaves Springer, Walsh, and Walker for 2 spots ( with a dark horse option of trading Scheierman.)
I think you keep Walker and make a decision between Walsh and Springer.

Walsh and Springer have guaranteed contracts - they're not getting cut.

The only ones who might get cut are the exhibit 10 guys (walker, Dmytro, Harper, Scrubb)

I know they would need to trade Walsh or Springer to stay at 14, just like Scheierman. I just think they signed Walker to the Exhibit 10 contract because they like the player last year enough to pay him at the last trade deadline. Now that he's gotten legitimate run and reinforced what he can do, I don't know what the point would be to bring him in at all.

[Curmudgeon]

They should waive and stretch Scheierman, who is light years away from being an NBA player. If he were a 19 year old it might be different. And I wouldn't give Anton Watson an NBA contract either. He needs a minimum of two or three years in Europe. As for Walker he obviously never saw a shot he didn't like. He might be useful bench insurance but as far as I'm concerned he's not worth the luxury tax it would cost to sign him.

If they can't find minutes for Jordan Walsh, who seems to be emerging as a player, there seems to be no point in keeping any of those three guys around.

[Fierce1]

Keep Walker.

Celtics might regret it if they let him go.

[31to6]

They should waive and stretch Scheierman, who is light years away from being an NBA player. If he were a 19 year old it might be different. And I wouldn't give Anton Watson an NBA contract either. He needs a minimum of two or three years in Europe. As for Walker he obviously never saw a shot he didn't like. He might be useful bench insurance but as far as I'm concerned he's not worth the luxury tax it would cost to sign him.

If they can't find minutes for Jordan Walsh, who seems to be emerging as a player, there seems to be no point in keeping any of those three guys around.

it's early but Scheierman does look like he sucks
I'd put my money on Walker for now and going forward
I'm also a big believer in Watson being an NBA guy, even if 3rd string

[JTMVP]

It would be a real mistake to let Walker go. And I'm not talking about this year. I don't think his impact this year will move the needle much on a championship caliber team like this.

The real impact is for 2025-26 and beyond. Let's get real here. The Celtics will be blown up. It will likely be after this season, but even if not, it will DEFINITELY be after the 2025-26 season. It's pretty unlikely that KP is getting extended. His injury history is ridiculous. In fact, I think that it's more likely that he gets traded next year as an expiring contract than that he gets extended. His days are numbered. Same thing for Jrue. It's very unlikely that he will see out the remaining years of his contract in Boston. As the C's look to dump salary, an old Jrue and an always injured KP are the OBVIOUS big contracts to discard.

The C's need to build with a plan toward the future. The core in the next 3-5 years will be JT, JB, and White (maybe Pritchard/Hauser). They'll need to develop the talent on the margins to stay on top. Walker provides exactly this type of opportunity. And he is a buy low candidate at the moment. You can get a good NBA player cheaply.

The Celtics should sign him now and dump Springer at the trade deadline. The tax isn't calculated until the end of the year. There is no penalty for the 15th man at the moment. Even if it takes giving up a second rounder to dump Springer (meaning that they lost two 2nd rounders in the Springer fiasco - Brad can't win every trade), I would still do it. Walkers minimum versus Springer's 4+M contract will provide significant tax savings at the end of the year.

I think that the decision is pretty obvious.

[phincsfan]

I'd offer Walker a spot in Maine. If another team likes what they've seen in pre-season then all the best. Any fg's he would have taken during the regular season, I'd rather see Sam or PP have. I liked the idea of the shiny new thing when they gave him the E10, but it's worn off IMO.

I'm more interested in the cheaper alternative of Scrubb in Maine and what he may offer next season when his knee is fully recovered.

I'm fine with the bench rotation having PP, Sam, X/Neems and Walsh.

[celtxman]

It would be a real mistake to let Walker go. And I'm not talking about this year. I don't think his impact this year will move the needle much on a championship caliber team like this.

The real impact is for 2025-26 and beyond. Let's get real here. The Celtics will be blown up. It will likely be after this season, but even if not, it will DEFINITELY be after the 2025-26 season. It's pretty unlikely that KP is getting extended. His injury history is ridiculous. In fact, I think that it's more likely that he gets traded next year as an expiring contract than that he gets extended. His days are numbered. Same thing for Jrue. It's very unlikely that he will see out the remaining years of his contract in Boston. As the C's look to dump salary, an old Jrue and an always injured KP are the OBVIOUS big contracts to discard.

The C's need to build with a plan toward the future. The core in the next 3-5 years will be JT, JB, and White (maybe Pritchard/Hauser). They'll need to develop the talent on the margins to stay on top. Walker provides exactly this type of opportunity. And he is a buy low candidate at the moment. You can get a good NBA player cheaply.

The Celtics should sign him now and dump Springer at the trade deadline. The tax isn't calculated until the end of the year. There is no penalty for the 15th man at the moment. Even if it takes giving up a second rounder to dump Springer (meaning that they lost two 2nd rounders in the Springer fiasco - Brad can't win every trade), I would still do it. Walkers minimum versus Springer's 4+M contract will provide significant tax savings at the end of the year.

I think that the decision is pretty obvious.

I agree on Walker. Too much talent at too cheap of a price to pass on.
I recognize the reality that this team blows it up. That's really up to ownership. Do I think they will be a championship team, after dumping KP and Holiday? No. At best they become contenders and this year may be the Last Dance.
KP's injuries are totally frustrating. But there is very little in the bullpen. Horford retires, we don't get much for KP, what do you have ? Frankly, I was wondering what the fuss was with Holiday when they got him. He played at another level in the playoffs and totally made the tough adjustment from Milwaukee.

[GoCeltics123]

Keep him

[Riverwalk2021]

The team’s window is now and Walker has a skill set none of the other bench guys have. i could see him being valuable in the Pos in certain spots. Shoot Springer, Walsh, Baylor to the moon for all I care.

We saw Walker swing a po series with the lakers with one scoring burst. He’s capable of doing that. The rest of the nba is praying we cut him.

[Riverwalk2021]

Some of the Boston podcaster takes saying they can’t see Lonnie on the roster need to find another sport cause they don’t know ball.

Brad will make the right call.

[celtxman]

The team’s window is now and Walker has a skill set none of the other bench guys have. i could see him being valuable in the Pos in certain spots. Shoot Springer, Walsh, Baylor to the moon for all I care.

We saw Walker swing a po series with the lakers with one scoring burst. He’s capable of doing that. The rest of the nba is praying we cut him.

And he can do this on a minimum contract. There was once a coach who talked about focusing on what people CAN do. Wait it's coming to me.....hold on....got it!

“Everybody is in the NBA for a reason. They have a special talent. They have a special ability. Sometimes people get put in a box of what they can’t do, instead of focusing on what they can. Our jobs are to take the 15 guys on the team, focus on what they do best." -Brad Stevens
Walker has the right attitude about this as well.

[Gant]

Read on Twitter

Bobby Manning asks, "How likely it is that another team signs him." After that performance last night, pretty likely.

Here's something to think about. If the Celtics don't sign Walker and let him hit the open market, which teams might pick him up?

Here's a few candidates: The Knicks, Sixers, Bucks, and Heat. Would anyone like to see Lonnie Walker getting hot for any of those teams? Would anyone like to see Eric Spoelstra subbing Lonnie Walker in, early in the fourth quarter of a close game in round one of the 2025 playoffs?

It only costs a tax penalty to sign him. Wyc has said they have money. Walker wants to be in Boston. Signing him is a lot better path than the alternative.