Celtics Should Look to Add Lonnie Walker IV at NBA Trade Deadline amid Latest Rumors
The Boston Celtics don't need to do anything at Thursday's NBA trade deadline.
They could help their championship chances if they do, though. And they know it.
Despite leading the league in winning percentage and net rating, the Celtics are searching for ways to upgrade their second unit. Brooklyn Nets scoring guard Lonnie Walker IV is one player who has caught their eye, per Yahoo Sports' Jake Fischer.
Walker may not be the first name many would connect to the Celtics, who have seemed like natural suitors of backup bigs and wings. Yet, he could be a valuable addition should Boston bring him aboard by Thursday afternoon.
Their Bench Could Use a Self-Sufficient Scorer
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Boston's bench can cover a wide arrange of areas, whether that's playmaking and perimeter shooting or rebounding and point-blank finishing.
The Celtics don't really have a quick-strike scorer in the traditional sixth man mold, though. Al Horford still flashes his savvy in the post at times, and Payton Pritchard is relatively comfortable calling his own number, but if Boston's bench needs a bucket, it doesn't necessarily have a player who can go find one on his own.
Walker absolutely has that skill in his bag. Armed with a quick first step, bounce around the basket and a three-ball that's hotter than ever, he has everything needed to consistently cook his defenders. This season, he's sitting all the way up in the 96th percentile on isolation plays, per NBA.com.
When Boston's bench has nothing working, Walker could go off-script and create his own chances. And since he's a fiery outside shooter and explosive finisher, he could share the floor with the Celtics starters, too.
Walker Has Been Awesome This Season
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Prior to this season, Walker often struggled with consistency. He'd have some magical moments now and again, but he could disappear for long stretches between them.
That's a big part of why his venture into 2023 free agency yielded only a one-year minimum contract with the Brooklyn Nets.
Despite missing a month-plus with a hamstring injury, Walker's quest for consistency has never looked more promising. His 47.6 field-goal percentage and 43.6 three-point percentage are both easily the best shooting rates he's had. Even more impressive, he's been this efficient while handling the heaviest usage rate of his career (24.7 percent, per Basketball-Reference).
Overall, he ranks in the 85th percentile for offensive estimated plus/minus, per Dunks & Threes. To put that number in context, the only Celtics with higher marks in the metric are Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porziņģis and Derrick White.
Among Affordable Options, This Is Boston's Best Bet
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While the Celtics have the draft assets needed to potentially pursue a bigger fish, they can't make the money work on a major move without disrupting their rotation. And there obviously isn't any need for a deal that dramatic.
So, Boston's budget is essentially capped at the $6.2 million trade exception created by last summer's Grant Williams sign-and-trade. The options for upgrades are as limited as you can imagine.
Fischer's report mentioned Otto Porter Jr. as an alternative, and while some may be more familiar with his name, he is totally unreliable due to his many bouts with the injury bug. He's been limited to just 15 appearances this season and played fewer than 30 games three of the past four seasons.
Some might point to Andre Drummond, but Boston's backup bigs have fared just fine. John Konchar could be on the radar, but he lacks a standout skill and his three-ball has flat-lined. Naji Marshall might get a look, but would the New Orleans Pelicans actually subtract from their rotation now that they finally have a healthy Zion Williamson?
Given whom the Celtics can realistically afford, Walker is the best bargain pickup they can find.
