The All-Star break is officially over for the Sixers, who are back to business as they’re set to sign wing Lonnie Walker to a two-year, $3.7 million deal, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. The second year of the deal is a team option, according to PHLY Sports’ Kyle Neubeck.
Walker last played for the Boston Celtics, having signed a one-year deal with the team during the 2024 offseason, but was waived on Oct. 19 and would sign with Žalgiris Kaunas in the Euroleague. The greatest surprise of this report is that it comes just hours after a statement from Walker’s agent that the Reading, PA, native would finish his season overseas.
Over six NBA seasons, the majority of which were spent with the San Antonio Spurs, Walker averaged 9.8 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game. He is also a career 35.6% shooter from three on an average of 3.9 attempts per game.
The Sixers are in the midst of a tumultuous season that has even raised questions about shutting down the team’s stars after the All-Star break. There is not yet concrete word on that front, and the Sixers’ continued additions, having converted both Justin Edwards and Jared Butler to standard NBA contracts, and now the signing of Walker, could be used to argue either side.
With Edwards, Butler, alongside trade acquisition Quentin Grimes, and now Walker — assuming he sticks around — in the Sixers’ projected rotation for the rest of the season, the Sixers have effectively flipped half of their rotation from the start of the year.
Whether this is due to a final push towards the postseason or the team continuing to gear up for next season, time will tell. The structure of Walker’s deal is similar to both Edwards and Butler and would allow the Sixers to bring Walker back next season by either picking up his team option, or by declining the option and potentially signing a longer-term deal.
