Veteran guard Lonnie Walker IV is back on the NBA radar, with several teams showing interest in bringing him back stateside, according to Marc Stein of The Stein Line.
The Philadelphia 76ers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Miami Heat, Denver Nuggets, and Boston Celtics are all viewed as potential suitors for Walker’s scoring ability off the bench.
Walker, 25, is currently overseas with Lithuanian EuroLeague club Zalgiris Kaunas after being cut from the Celtics’ training camp roster this past fall. The 6-foot-4 wing, who was on an Exhibit 10 deal with Boston, has opted to play abroad rather than suit up for the Celtics’ G League affiliate, the Maine Celtics.
However, Walker isn’t fully committed to his current overseas deal. His contract with Zalgiris Kaunas includes a $450K buyout clause, allowing him to return to the NBA before the February 18 deadline if any interested team comes calling.
Other EuroLeague clubs, including Real Madrid and Maccabi Tel Aviv, had reportedly shown interest, but Walker ultimately chose Zalgiris.
Despite his recent EuroLeague stint, Walker is still very much in demand in the NBA, especially given his scoring punch off the bench. Last season, playing for the Brooklyn Nets, Walker averaged 9.7 points, 2.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 0.6 steals over 58 games, shooting a respectable 42.3% from the field and 38.4% from beyond the arc.
With teams like Miami, Minnesota, and Denver looking to bolster their bench units, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Walker back in the NBA soon.
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