Why Lonnie Walker left the NBA for Europe

Lonnie Walker was anticipated to remain in the NBA, even without a guaranteed spot. However, according to BasketNews sources, the six-year NBA veteran’s move to Europe indicates his desire to prove himself to NBA teams by taking on a significant role in the EuroLeague.Just 18 months ago, Lonnie Walker IV scored 15 points in the fourth quarter to help the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Golden State Warriors on their way to the Western Conference Finals. Now, the 25-year-old is making his way to Europe with a EuroLeague contract at Zalgiris Kaunas. Why didn’t Walker stay in the NBA?

BasketNews explores the market circumstances that led Walker to Europe.

Walker had long been on the radar of European teams, and recent interest from Real Madrid sparked overseas conversations again.

But when Madrid’s option first appeared, Walker was not keen on moving to Europe, viewing himself as an NBA player. Meanwhile, the Milwaukee Bucks also expressed strong interest, though it didn’t lead to a roster spot.

After being waived by the Boston Celtics on October 19, Walker was widely expected to join their G League affiliate, the Maine Celtics, sources tell BasketNews. This would have kept his chances high for an in-season call-up to the Celtics, leaving the room open to sign a guaranteed deal later into the season.

This was part of the initial plan. Walker’s spot as the 15th player would have added about $10M in luxury tax for the Celtics, so they aimed to move him to the G League first.

Walker wasn’t eligible for a two-way contract due to his four-plus years in the NBA. Most teams already had tight salary caps at the start of the season and wanted to maintain financial flexibility. His chances for an NBA deal could improve significantly after the February 6 trade deadline, when teams get a clearer view of their salary cap situation for the rest of the 2024-25 season.

Walker understood the situation and was ready to join the G League before signing a non-guaranteed deal with Boston.However, the player ultimately hesitated. Sources tell BasketNews that he could have felt overqualified for a G League role and sought a larger opportunity, frustrated with being seen as a borderline 15th man on the NBA roster.

This is when Lonnie Walker shifted his mindset and viewed Europe as a platform to showcase his abilities in a key role.

With most NBA rosters already set for the season, Zalgiris Kaunas approached him with a compelling package many EuroLeague teams couldn’t match: a significant financial offer, a vital role in replacing a projected go-to player, and an NBA exit clause until February 18.

These terms were key for Walker, who wants to prove his value beyond the end of the NBA bench.
You could sense Lonnie’s frustration at being viewed as just a roster filler in recent years.

“I’ve been looking for a home since I left San Antonio,” he said to Boston’s media after joining the Celtics on an Exhibit 10 deal.

“I’ve been doing a whole bunch of one-year deals. One year with LA, one year with the Nets. Now, I’m on the E10. So, just finding an organization that really wants me to be a part of the team and continuously grow and be a part of the community and the fan base as well … to finally find a team that I’m with for a long-term deal, whatever it might be, and just be embraced. I think since I’ve been in the league, I’ve always dealt with a lot of inconsistent minutes, based off of probably injuries or whatever it might have been, that’s out of my control, and for once, I maybe just want some consistency in that area of just understanding my role and my place within the team.”

Lonnie Walker IV NBA stats

Some EuroLeague clubs remained hesitant. According to BasketNews sources, while Walker’s athleticism, ability to get inside the paint, transition play, and solid NBA-level defense are clear strengths, scouts are curious to see how he’ll adapt to EuroLeague’s smaller courts, detail-oriented play within the system, especially after missing preseason and joining six EuroLeague games into the season.

Zalgiris head coach Andrea Trinchieri will be instrumental in helping Walker adapt both on and off the court and unlock his potential in Europe.

How did Zalgiris manage to land Lonnie Walker until the end of the season over all the EuroLeague powerhouses after all?

Some teams backed off after receiving an initial “no” from Walker. Others, especially those with Final Four or title ambitions, couldn’t risk signing a player who might leave just before the EuroLeague playoffs. Some needed a different type of player or couldn’t offer Walker the clear leading role he sought to showcase his talent for the NBA.

Let’s not overlook that Zalgiris made a surprisingly generous financial offer, outbidding some EuroLeague powerhouses with much larger budgets. They also included a strong insurance clause, with the NBA buyout potentially exceeding reported $450,000, according to BasketNews sources.

Zalgiris surprised many in the market with their financial strength, competing head-to-head with other EuroLeague clubs. BasketNews sources estimate that Walker’s salary in Kaunas may be close to $1,000,000 if the player remains in Zalgiris until the end of the season.

But credit goes to Zalgiris’ front office for sealing the deal with Walker before other EuroLeague teams might have had a chance to reconsider and make their move.

While other teams passed due to his NBA exit clause or fit, Zalgiris, considered a EuroLeague playoff contender, sees Walker as a low-risk, high-reward signing.

Walker, just 25 and the 18th pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, spent his first four years with the San Antonio Spurs. Over his six-year NBA career, he’s averaged 9.7 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 322 games (88 starts).

Last season with the Brooklyn Nets, he put up 9.7 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 17 minutes per game. In November, he boosted those numbers to 14.4 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.5 assists over 15 games.

According to BasketNews sources, Walker’s buyout terms mean that Zalgiris could profit if he returns to the NBA. Plus, with the thin EuroLeague player market, Zalgiris could likely have better replacement options by then.

According to sources, Walker can only leave Zalgiris if he secures a guaranteed NBA contract.

If the gamble doesn’t pay off, they’ll need to keep their new highest-paid player through the season. But for now, it’s an exciting risk Zalgiris is prepared to take.