NBA News: Lonnie Walker IV, 76ers Reportedly Agree to 2-Year, $3M Contract

As the Philadelphia 76ers eye a potential push into the Eastern Conference play-in tournament, they are reportedly adding some backcourt depth.

ESPN's Shams Charania reported Tuesday the 76ers agreed to a two-year, $3 million deal with Lonnie Walker IV. Walker has not played in the NBA this season but has suited up for Zalgiris Kaunas in the Euroleague.

Kyle Neubeck of PHLY Sports noted the deal has a team option for the second year.

Walker entered the league as a first-round pick of the San Antonio Spurs in 2018 and has previously suited up for the Los Angeles Lakers and Brooklyn Nets.

He played 58 games for Brooklyn last season and averaged 9.7 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game while shooting 42.3 percent from the field and 38.4 percent from deep. While he is not a major addition, that type of outside shooting figures to help in Philadelphia when Paul George and Tyrese Maxey draw double-teams.

He'll especially be beneficial alongside Joel Embiid because of the attention the big man draws on the blocks.

Walker never fully lived up to the expectations that come with being a first-round pick, but he averaged better than 11 points per game in three straight seasons from 2020-21 through 2022-23 for the Spurs and Lakers.

He also shined on the national stage in the 2023 playoffs when he scored 15 points in the fourth quarter of the Lakers' Game 4 victory over the Golden State Warriors in the second round.

That type of production is much-needed in Philadelphia for a team that has lost five in a row and seven of its last eight. Yet even at 20-34, it is still just 1.5 games behind the Chicago Bulls for the final spot in the Eastern Conference play-in tournament.

Even a solid closing stretch to the season could put the 76ers in a position to make some noise in the playoffs. Walker will look to provide some secondary scoring as the team looks to turn things around in the immediate future.