The Celtics are reportedly waiving Lonnie Walker IV, leaving the final roster spot open

Despite what head coach Joe Mazzulla called a “great” training camp, Lonnie Walker IV failed to crack the Celtics’ regular-season roster.

Boston waived Walker on Saturday and decided to leave its final spot on the 15-man roster open before Tuesday’s season opener against the New York Knicks.

ESPN’s Bobby Marks and Shams Charania were the first to report the move.

The 25-year-old winger joined the Celtics on an Exhibit 10 tryout contract in late August after failing to receive a guaranteed contract in free agency. Walker played in four of Boston’s five preseason games and saw extended action in two of them. He posted nine points, seven assists, four rebounds and two steals in 25 minutes against the Philadelphia 76ers’ backups and scored 20 points on 8 of 15 shooting in a win over the Raptors. He was a DNP-CD in the Celtics’ preseason finale in Toronto.

Since the Celtics are well over the NBA’s luxury tax limit, drafting Walker would have cost the team more than $10 million between his veteran minimum salary and associated tax penalties. He is free to sign with any team or, if there are no compelling offers, he could start the season with the Celtics’ G League affiliate in Maine.

Brad Stevens, president of basketball operations, told Walker when he signed that a stint in the G League was a possibility. Walker said at the start of training camp that he was “completely happy” with this result, despite not having played on the NBA farm circuit since his rookie year in 2018-19.

Under the terms of his E-10 contract, Walker can receive a bonus if he plays a predetermined number of games in the G League.

“I have to earn it,” Walker said at the start of training camp. “Of course there are many different aspects that could affect this, but with an E-10 it is not guaranteed. I don’t come here with the mindset of, “Okay, I’m on an E-10 and after that I get the guaranteed contract.” It’s like I have to work my tail off. I really have to give my best every day on the pitch. First in the gym, hopefully last out, come back later, shoot and just be mentally and physically prepared for the result.”

According to his Instagram, Walker attended the Celtics’ Shamrock Foundation Tip-Off Gala on Friday night and then returned to the Boston training facility for a night’s workout. But he was not present when the Celtics opened their doors to reporters after practice Saturday.

Mazzulla remained silent on Walker’s status in his post-practice press conference, replying “I don’t know” when asked what the team planned to do with him. News of Walker’s release came minutes later.

Throughout the preseason, Mazzulla and his players praised Walker for his professionalism and willingness to learn.

“He had a great approach,” Mazzula said Friday. “(He’s) a guy who’s been in the league a long time and has seen different environments. He came in with his head down and just wanted to work and understand what it meant to play our style of basketball on both ends of the court.

“I thought he did a good job in the time he had. I thought he did a great job with his patience and executing the role we needed him to play, and I thought he did a good job in the film room of understanding our system on both ends of the floor.”

Guard Derrick White, who played with Walker in San Antonio for three and a half seasons, called him “my guy.”

“Great guy, works hard,” White said. “You can tell he has a lot of passion for the game.”

Luke Kornet said he enjoyed playing alongside Walker this preseason.

“I love Lonnie,” the backup center said. “Honestly, he’s a great player. His energy and his joy and passion and connection… I thought it was great. I never had the chance to get to know him until a few weeks ago and he was great to have around and honestly a joy to play and work with.”

Walker is entering his seventh NBA season. He has played in 322 career games for the Spurs, Lakers and Nets and averaged 20.1 points per 36 minutes for Brooklyn last season. Two seasons ago, he was part of Los Angeles’ playoff rotation as it reached the Western Conference finals.

But with the Celtics returning nearly every player from their 2023-24 championship roster, Walker would have played a minor role with Boston. The team had apparently decided that this would not have been worth its tax-inflated price tag.

Mazzulla said Stevens has final say on roster-related decisions in his role as Boston’s top front office official.

“We talk every day,” Mazzulla said. “We communicate every day. Not necessarily collaborating on the decision, but collaborating on the possibilities and the things that are on both sides of the coin and what you think about them. In the end, he’s great at making decisions. We trust that decision, but we communicate every day about where we think things are and go from there.”

Barring a late surprise, the Celtics will start the season with 14 players: Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, White, Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford, Payton Pritchard, Sam Hauser, Kornet, Xavier Tillman, Neemias Queta, Jordan Walsh, Jaden Springer and Baylor Scheierman.

JD Davison, Drew Peterson and Anton Watson have two-way contracts that allow them to split their time between Boston and Maine.

After news of his release broke, Walker shared a message on his Instagram Story.

“Will always bet on myself,” he wrote. “It’s going to be one hell of a story.”

White honored

The Celtics recognized White for his accomplishments off the court during the Shamrock Foundation Gala, presenting the veteran guard with the 2024 Community Champion Award.

A long-time supporter of the Special Olympics, White hosted a bowling fundraiser to benefit Special Olympics Massachusetts in February. He has also worked with Boston Medical Center on its Curbside Care initiative.

“It meant a lot,” White said. “It was very cool to be honored like that. The community is what it’s all about and we just try to give back to the community, give back to the people who are less fortunate and just try to celebrate the successes that they’ve achieved. So it’s a huge honor to win and I’m just glad I can do something like this in this community.”

Originally published: October 19, 2024 at 1:07 p.m