Ex-Laker Signs With Hated Rival After Surprise Free Agency Stint

The Los Angeles Lakers have been frustratingly quiet this offseason. While the teams around them strengthened their rosters, the Lakers are bringing back the same team that lost in the first round of the playoffs last year. Even the reigning champions the Boston Celtics are adding to their roster while GM Rob Pelinka and the Lakers front office are twiddling their thumbs.

Most recently, the Celtics signed a former Laker to an Exhibit 10 contract. Lonnie Walker IV, who spent the 2022-23 season with the Lakers and played a big role in the playoffs, is heading to Boston.

NBA News: Celtics Sign Lonnie Walker IV

This is an unexpected signing for various reasons. It was surprising that Walker was still out there, to begin with. He is a solid scorer who can get to the rim, finish, and hit over 38% of his threes last season. Plus, at age 25, he still has some upside.

However, the Celtics are probably the team that needed him the least. They are stacked on the perimeter with Jrue Holiday, Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Payton Pritchard, and Sam Hauser. It will be an uphill battle for Walker to crack that rotation.

Another shocking aspect of it is that he was only able to get an Exhibit 10 deal, meaning it is a non-guaranteed one-year minimum deal. The fact that he wasn't able to get a guaranteed contract after being a decent bench scorer the past few years is surprising.

It also acts as a painful reminder of the Lakers' incompetence. There was a free agent available who they could have signed on a minimum, one-year deal that could have been a part of their rotation next season. Instead, they are starting next season with the likes of Jalen Hood-Schifino, Christian Wood, Jaxson Hayes, and Cam Reddish, who have no chance of being impactful contributors in their rotation.

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