Ex-Lakers playoff hero joins the 76ers
Andre Drummond is no longer the only former Los Angeles Laker on the Philadelphia 76ers roster.
On Tuesday, Shams Charania of ESPN reported that the 76ers have signed veteran wing Lonnie Walker IV to a two-year, $3 million deal.
Walker, 26, was selected by the San Antonio Spurs in the first round of the 2018 draft (18th overall). This season, he had been playing for Zalgiris Kaunas in Lithuania’s EuroLeague. However, his contract with Zalgiris included an NBA buyout clause, which was set to expire on Tuesday.
Philadelphia is currently missing guard Eric Gordon due to a wrist injury, prompting them to activate Walker’s buyout at the last moment.
Walker has played for the Spurs, Los Angeles Lakers, and Brooklyn Nets during his NBA career. He notably became a playoff hero for the Lakers, scoring a game-winning performance in a playoff game during their 2023 Western Conference Finals run. During his most recent NBA season with the Nets (2023-24), Walker averaged 9.7 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 17.4 minutes per game off the bench. Throughout his six-year NBA career, Walker has averaged 9.8 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 20.3 minutes per game.
While the 76ers have underperformed this season, currently sitting at 20-34, the Eastern Conference’s top-heavy nature means they are still just 1.5 games away from a play-in spot. Walker, a 6-foot-5 scorer and defender, is expected to become a key contributor for Philadelphia for the rest of the season.