Lonnie Walker IV is heading overseas.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania and Bobby Marks, Walker is signing with Zalgiris Kaunas of the Euroleague. The deal includes an NBA buyout clause until February 19th, allowing him to join an NBA team if one signs him before that deadline.
The 25-year-old signed an Exhibit-10 deal with the Celtics in late August, before being waived prior to the season.
Walker still made the most of his chance, playing in four of Boston’s five preseason games.
After logging only 11 minutes in the first two games and missing all six of his shot attempts in Abu Dhabi, he found his rhythm once the Celtics returned stateside.
In two games at TD Garden, Walker totaled 29 points on 12-of-22 shooting (54.5%) and connected on 5-of-13 (38.5%) from three-point range. He also added four rebounds and eight assists and posted a +24 plus-minus before sitting out the preseason finale with a DNP-CD.
Walker’s non-guaranteed deal would have earned him a $77,500 bonus if he spent at least 60 days with the Celtics’ G-League affiliate in Maine. However, according to John Karalis of Boston Sports Journal, he opted to “pursue other opportunities.”
With his deal with the Euroleague, he is likely far better compensated.
Fans followed Walker closely during camp and preseason, hoping the Celtics might retain him. As a former first-round pick and dynamic three-level scorer, Walker’s talent on a minimum contract was a rare find. But keeping him would have cost the Celtics around $11 million in salary and tax penalties, leading to his departure.
The Celtics were reportedly gauging the trade value of guard Jaden Springer before final roster cuts, and he could be a candidate to be dealt midseason if they want to take another chance on Walker down the road.
For now, the six-year NBA veteran heads to Europe, where he’ll look to build on his NBA averages of 11.2 points per game on 42.3% shooting from the field and 35.2% from three-point range over the past four seasons.
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