Lonnie Walker IV is taking his talents to Lithuania.
After failing to crack the Celtics’ regular-season roster out of training camp, the veteran wing plans to sign with EuroLeague club Zalgiris Kaunas, his agent told ESPN’s Shams Charania and Bobby Marks on Wednesday.
Per the terms of the Exhibit 10 tryout contract he signed with Boston, Walker could have earned a bonus if he played an undisclosed number of games with the Celtics’ G League affiliate. The 25-year-old said early in training camp that he would be “perfectly fine” with a G League assignment.
But after being waived ahead of the Celtics’ season opener and going unclaimed, Walker chose to pursue other opportunities overseas. His deal with Zalgiris Kaunas includes an NBA buyout clause that expires on Feb. 18, per ESPN, allowing him to join an NBA club if one chooses to sign him before that deadline.
Walker played in four of Boston’s five preseason games and saw substantial minutes in two of them, notching nine points, seven assists, four rebounds, two steals and a block against Philadelphia and 20 points on 8-of-15 shooting against Toronto.
Because the Celtics are well above the NBA’s luxury tax threshold, permanently signing Walker, even for the veteran minimum, would have cost the team upward of $10 million between salary and tax penalties.
After his release, Walker tweeted: “I’m only 25 all in due time! The marathon continues. I know the stars will align. Self belief is the best belief. All apart of the story. Stay tuned.”
