There isn’t a lot of competition at Celtics training camp this year when it comes to roster spots. The team has already handed out 14 guaranteed contracts, 13 to returning players and one to rookie first-round pick Baylor Scheierman. With the tax penalties involved, there is a strong possibility the team carries 14 players for the start of the regular season, a path they took for several months last year before inking Neemias Queta to a deal before the postseason.
That reality made the team’s signing of Lonnie Walker to an Exhibit 10 contract particularly intriguing last month. The veteran guard has played for three different teams in the past three years but is a proven offensive NBA talent. The fact he was willing to settle for a non-guaranteed roster spot came as a surprise to many around the league, including the former first round pick.
“I wish I had a clear-cut answer for that as to why I didn’t get a guaranteed deal,” Walker said. “But it’s just the way the cards fall. As a man, good, bad or ugly, you got to accept what fate is given and continue to push. I’m not going to stop or put my head down because I’m not given what I expected.”
With the Celtics still fully loaded in their backcourt with Jrue Holiday, Derrick White and Payton Pritchard, it’s hard to envision a real need for Walker in the present barring a serious injury. Perhaps the team could trade away a player (Jaden Springer?) to create an opening for Walker after a strong camp. If the team wants to move ahead with this current group, opportunity and added cost (nearly $10 million in tax penalties) in carrying Walker on the roster as a 15th guy would be steep.
Yet, there’s another part of this equation that may be overlooked thus far within the Walker signing. A willingness to play in the G-League while waiting his turn. Walker brought up this possibility while speaking after his first training camp practice on Wednesday.
[Brad Stevens] also mentioned that there’s a possibility that I might spend some time in the G League with Maine, and honestly, I’m perfectly fine with that,” Walker said. “Because as a man, you’ve got to take it on the chin. You’ve got to continue to work. You have to continue to be prepared and just keep being ready. I think I’m mentally prepared for almost any outcome that may pop up, and I know sooner or later that the worm will turn and that the light’s still at the end of the tunnel.”
Walker would have some financial incentive to play for the Maine Celtics in the G-League if he doesn’t make the 15-man roster with Boston. He would earn an additional $77,500 if spending 60 days with Maine in the G-League, which is chump change for a guy in Walker who has made over $20 million in his career.
While the financial incentive to stay in Boston’s system is not meaningful for Walker, the possibility of opportunity beyond this upcoming season is very much there. The 2025-26 regular season is when the repeater tax will kick in and the very strong possibility exists that significant cuts will be made to Boston’s historically high payroll by whatever ownership group is in place.
If multiple rotation players are traded away in cost cutting moves then, there will be some real playing time available within Boston’s rotation for a team that will still be in contention for a title. Boston’s brass will be looking for cheap talent to replace them on the open market at that point and the Celtics will have very limited means in free agency beyond the veteran’s minimum.
This is where having a guy like Walker in the team’s system could pay dividends. The benefits would be clear for Boston, but the allure of that chance may be enough to convince Walker to stick around in the G-League for a full year. If Walker doesn’t get anything other promising opportunities elsewhere, playing off the bench for a title contender a year from now would certainly be an enticing carrot that could help him rebuild his value on the open market down the line. He’s young enough at age 25 to take that kind of gamble after watching his value on the free agent market dry up over the last two offseasons.
There is still a long way to go before both sides cross that bridge. Walker has to impress the Celtics enough in camp to invest in him. If Walker was waived, he would be free to sign with any other team if he put on an impressive showing in the G-League or one could just claim him after roster cuts. It’s hard to ignore though how Walker is speaking about his experience in Boston so far and his commitment to a surprise situation.
“Brad Stevens, he’s given me the opportunity with the E-10 to kind of prove myself and show my capabilities offensively, defensively, off the court, being a great teammate,” Walker said. So I’m just really excited and grateful to be here and I’m just going to work to the best of my capability.”
Walker may end up contributing sooner than anticipated in Boston but if he ends up reporting to Maine later this month, don’t rule out the possibility of a move that could end up being a savvy gamble by this front office.
