Former Lakers Guard Signs Deal with EuroLeague Squad

Ricardo Sandoval | Oct 30, 2024

May 20, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura (28), guard Dennis Schroder (17), guard Lonnie Walker IV (4), guard Austin Reaves (15) and forward Anthony Davis (3) watch from the bench in the fourth quarter against the Denver Nuggets during game three of the Western Conference Finals for the 2023 NBA playoffs at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images / Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Former Los Angeles Lakers guard Lonnie Walker IV has found a new home.

Walker has signed a deal with the Zalgiris Kaunas of the Euroleague.

ESPN's Shams Charania shared the news via Twitter/X.

Lonnie Walker IV will sign with Zalgiris Kaunas of the Euroleague, agent George S. Langberg of GSL Sports Group tells me and @BobbyMarks42. The deal will include an NBA buyout clause until Feb. 18. The 25-year-old G has averaged 10 points in 20 minutes a game in six NBA seasons. pic.twitter.com/0ooJDpUTXy

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 30, 2024

The contract with his new team includes an NBA buyout clause that the player can exercise until Feb. 18.

Walker was rumored to be on the agenda of several EuroLeague clubs, including Spanish powerhouse Real Madrid.

Walker spent one season with the Lakers, averaging 11.7 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 1.1 assists in 56 games and 32 starts in the 2022-23 season.

The Lakers signed Walker on a one-year, $6.5 million contract. He played the first 32 games of the season before suffering knee tendinitis issues in December. At the time, he was doing quite well for himself, although the Lakers weren't, averaging 14.7 points in 29.8 minutes per game and shooting 45.5 percent from the field and 38.9 percent on 3-pointers.

Walker missed 14 games due to the injury, and afterward, he was practically out of the lineup, especially after the Lakers acquired D'Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Rui Hachimura before the trade deadline.

Although he was out of the lineup in the second half of the season and in the playoffs, Walker stepped up when he was needed most. He scored all 15 of his points in the fourth quarter of Game 4 of the Western Conference Semifinals against the Warriors to help the Lakers overcome a seven-point deficit.

The Lakers went on to win that series but ultimately lost to the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals.

After his brief stint with the Lakers, Walker spent one season with the Brooklyn Nets and was with the Boston Celtics this preseason. The 25-year-old was unable to get a guaranteed contract over the summer but signed an Exhibit-10-day deal with the Celtics in August.

Last season with the Nets, Walker averaged 9.7 points and 2.2 rebounds in 58 games.

It was his fifth year in the league after the San Antonio
Spurs drafted him in the first round with the No. 18 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft. Walker attended the University of Miami, where he was named to the ACC All-Freshman Team and finished the season averaging 11.5 points per game.

Walker will now join one of the best teams in Europe. His new team is currently tied with Barcelona for first place in the EuroLeague standings with a 5-1 record.

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