OT: Lonnie Walker, Updates

[redslastlaugh]

tonight is the last preseason game, with everyone healthy and available.

If Lonnie Walker gets a DNP, I’m assuming he’s cut. If he gets minutes, I will keep my mind open to the possibility Brad that wa$ given authorization from Wyc to carry 15.

[hugepatsfan]

Even if Walker does beat out Springer for a roster spot, I'd be surprised if they made the move right away. They can afford to weight. As a matter of practicality, Springer's contract is the only way we can make a deadline deal. Let's say there's an Xavier Tillman type trade out there this year, without Springer's contract we probably can't swing the deal. Walker seems better able to play rotation minutes now, but there's no urgent need for it. They can be patient.

My whole-season prediction is that they start Walker in Maine and keep Springer. By the deadline, they'll either use Springer as salary filler in a deal or they'll pay a 2nd to dump him for the tax savings. Either way, Walker ends up signing a pro rated minimum deal at that point.

Walker was a FA for anyone to sign a few weeks ago. No one is beating down the door to sign him. He knew what he signed up for as an E10 guy who could be assigned to Maine. If another team wants him, he can leave at anytime so he's not trapped. Again, doesn't seem to be happening for him now, but if it does then maybe that forces our hand to act sooner with him. But right now, there's no rush. We don't need the on court impact and the financialflexibility incentive is to wait.

[redslastlaugh]

Walker was a FA for anyone to sign a few weeks ago. No one is beating down the door to sign him. He knew what he signed up for as an E10 guy who could be assigned to Maine. If another team wants him, he can leave at anytime so he's not trapped. Again, doesn't seem to be happening for him now, but if it does then maybe that forces our hand to act sooner with him. But right now, there's no rush. We don't need the on court impact and the financialflexibility incentive is to wait.

Only one thing has changed, the Knicks traded three roster contracts including two wings (DiVencenzo and Bates-Diop) for KAT. Now NY has 12 guys signed plus camp options on TJ Warren, Landry Shamet and Chuma Okeke.

If Lonnie Walker comes back on the open market, is he a clear upgrade over Landry Shamet? He probably is … so NY probably just waives Shamet and signs Lonnie

[31to6]

The fans on RealGM have contributed to a championship more than Lonnie Walker ever will. And we never got paid $10M. Where's our $10M, Wyc?

is it time for us to start instilling our championship DNA in each other??

[shackles10]

The fans on RealGM have contributed to a championship more than Lonnie Walker ever will. And we never got paid $10M. Where's our $10M, Wyc?

is it time for us to start instilling our championship DNA in each other??

Eww

[ConstableGeneva]

Read on Twitter

[celtxman]

People on this board like Walker, hate him or are indifferent. What I don't understand is the $10 million talk. That is calculated on the roster that is there on the last day of the season. So if they are holding Sptinger for ability or a later matching trade, fine. Go to 15 players. Sign Walker. You'd likely need to trade Springer to get anyone of minimal value anyway. You can't aggregate salaries to do 2-1 trades in the apron.

[jmr07019]

Tatum is 26. Brown turns 28 very soon.

NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO PINCH PENNIES

If the Celtics cut Walker ownership deserves to be heavily criticized.

[Green89]

Tatum is 26. Brown turns 28 very soon.

NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO PINCH PENNIES

If the Celtics cut Walker ownership deserves to be heavily criticized.

If he's not given a full spot, NY or Miami will grab him. I don't believe he will ever suit up for Maine.

[Parliament10]

Tatum is 26. Brown turns 28 very soon.

NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO PINCH PENNIES

If the Celtics cut Walker ownership deserves to be heavily criticized.

If he's not given a full spot, NY or Miami will grab him. I don't believe he will ever suit up for Maine.

He's gotta make the Team, right?

[redslastlaugh]

Lonnie Walker with a DNP
Jaden Springer with a DNP

Ron Harper Jr. crunch time mins. Just how I envisioned it, lol

[Hal14]

Tatum is 26. Brown turns 28 very soon.

NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO PINCH PENNIES

If the Celtics cut Walker ownership deserves to be heavily criticized.

I mean, we just won the title without LOnnie Walker.

With or without Walker, we are still heavy title favorites.

All 30 teams declined to offer walker a guaranteed contract this offseason.

We went with just 14 guys for pretty much all of last season..should ownership have been heavily scrutinized then?

We could have signed some other bench scorer wing for the 15th roster spot last year (Terance Davis, Austin Rivers, TJ Warren were available. I believe Jaylen Nowell, Will Barton, Terrence ROss and Edmond Sumner were available too). But we passed on those guys and left the 15th roster spot open..should ownership have been heavily criticized?

[Hal14]

If he's not given a full spot, NY or Miami will grab him. I don't believe he will ever suit up for Maine.

Those teams (and every other team in the league) had all offseason to sign him - they declined to do so.

Noa Dalzell said on her podcast yesterday that word on the street is that he's got no other teams interested in signing him so she expects him to start the season in Maine.

[Hal14]

He's gotta make the Team, right?

You never know, but:

-Brad said. to the media a few weeks ago that we're likely leaving the 15th spot open and that the exhibit 10 guys will likely end up in Maine.
-Prior to camp, Brian Robb estimated a 30% chance walker makes the team
-Noa Dalzell said yesterday on her podcast that everything she has heard points to walker starting the season in Maine..that's what she fully expects will happen

[ConstableGeneva]

Read on Twitter

That's max of 15 on regular roster + 3 two-ways. We currently have 14 guys on standard contracts, barring trade (which I doubt). If Walker doesn't get waived, I believe his E10 automatically gets converted to a non-guaranteed contract which makes him the 15th guy.

[Gant]

The Knicks have three open roster spots.

Keith Smith:

Removing players on Exhibit 9/10 contracts, these are the open roster spots around the NBA:

ATL - None
BOS - 1 standard
BKN - 1 two-way
CHA - 1 standard, 1 two-way
CHI - 1 two-way
CLE - 1 standard
DAL - 1 standard
DEN - None
DET - 1 standard, 1 two-way
GSW - 1 standard*
HOU - 1 standard
IND - 1 standard
LAC - 1 two-way
LAL - None
MEM - 1 standard, 1 two-way
MIA - 1 standard
MIL - None
MIN - None
NOP - 1 standard
NYK - 3 standard
OKC - 1 standard
ORL - 2 two-way
PHI - 1 standard
PHX - 1 standard
POR - None
SAC - 2 standard
SAS - 1 two-way
TOR - None
UTA - None
WAS - 1 two-way

[ConstableGeneva]

The Knicks have three open roster spots.

Keith Smith:

Removing players on Exhibit 9/10 contracts, these are the open roster spots around the NBA:

ATL - None
BOS - 1 standard
BKN - 1 two-way
CHA - 1 standard, 1 two-way
CHI - 1 two-way
CLE - 1 standard
DAL - 1 standard
DEN - None
DET - 1 standard, 1 two-way
GSW - 1 standard*
HOU - 1 standard
IND - 1 standard
LAC - 1 two-way
LAL - None
MEM - 1 standard, 1 two-way
MIA - 1 standard
MIL - None
MIN - None
NOP - 1 standard
NYK - 3 standard
OKC - 1 standard
ORL - 2 two-way
PHI - 1 standard
PHX - 1 standard
POR - None
SAC - 2 standard
SAS - 1 two-way
TOR - None
UTA - None
WAS - 1 two-way

But since they're hard-capped at the 2nd apron, they can only add one player at veteran's minimum and one rookie.

Have to say though, Walker would be a nice replacement for Shamet, who they were planning to sign before the shoulder injury (they might still sign him who knows).

[Hal14]

Walker would also help to fill the void left by Divencenzo and give the knicks another wing shooter.

Idk though..Thibs seems to have a strong preference for defensive grinder type guys.. not sure if any of them are available as free agents, though..

They could sign Brissett to kind of fill the void left by Toppin..(athletic, high energy, SF/PF type)

[celtxman]

Walker would also help to fill the void left by Divencenzo and give the knicks another wing shooter.

Idk though..Thibs seems to have a strong preference for defensive grinder type guys.. not sure if any of them are available as free agents, though..

They could sign Brissett to kind of fill the void left by Toppin..(athletic, high energy, SF/PF type)

This is PART of the reason the Celtics have to consider signing Walker. When he's hot, and that isn't rare, he can win you a playoff game. He had 20 points in 20 minutes ( and I believe 15in 17 and13 in 17 against the Celtics. It would be a dagger to be up 1-0 in the playoffs against NY ready to go 2-0 and Walker goes off. That's something you weren't getting from someone like Svi. It is a factor.
It is obviously correct that no one signed him before and since. Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports reported last February the Celtics had genuine interest and obviously interest was shown in the Exhibit 10 contract. I don't really care about other teams. I trust Stevens and they considered Walker for this squad. So if Walker isn't signed, it is what it is and probably has more to do with Walsh's excellent pre season play.
Last year we needed to hold a spot for a center and ultimately it was Queta . This year is different. You got a legit NBA contributor, who brings an exciting element off of the bench, that you don't have right now and it's in their control for a few days. For me, it's 48/52 that they keep him lol. I live in NY so I was blacked out from watching. But it seems Walsh played well enough that they will trust him with real minutes.

[Celts17Pride]

There is no one who will be available to the Celtics this year given all the new CBA rules (2nd apron etc.) that will be better than Lonnie Walker. Celtics got lucky that he fell into their laps. I highly doubt they will let him go.