Lonnie Walker IV got an opportunity to advance his NBA comeback bid after his most recent stint with the Philadelphia 76ers, when the Nuggets took a flier on him as a free agent. Unfortunately, it seems like that is a short-lived chapter, as the athletic wing reportedly got waived by Denver's front office after a forgettable stint in the preseason, ultimately shutting the door on his attempt to return to the league in this campaign.
Reports now point to Walker and his camp re-exploring opportunities to play overseas. That being said, the more interesting nugget to take away from this development is the fact that he ended up having a bigger opportunity with the 76ers than what the Nuggets were willing to give him, which is actually quite confounding in the grand scheme of things.
Former 76ers wing Lonnie Walker gets a brutal axing from the Nuggets
In all fairness, Walker's opportunity in Denver was never a surefire case. He signed a non-guaranteed deal with the Nuggets, and apparently, they did not see enough from the 27-year-old to keep him in the fold.
The former 76ers wing ended up logging just 17 minutes of action this preseason before getting cut, totaling just four points, three rebounds, and a couple of assists in the process. David Adelman and the coaching staff clearly did not have him high on their list of players to test the waters with, so this news was a logical culmination of things.
Ultimately, Walker got a bigger opportunity when he was still with the 76ers. While he arrived in Philly when the team was absolutely marred by injuries, he still received an ample window to showcase his skills, even earning a two-year deal with the team, only for the front office to decline the club option in his contract before last season began.
Now, the window for the athletic wing to make his return to the NBA is definitely close to getting shut, so much so that his camp is already eyeing opportunities abroad. For now, his comeback bid is likely poised for an indefinite pause, which is unfortunate given that there is still upside to him as a bench scorer.
It simply sucks to see Lonnie Walker get cut by a team that appeared to have the stylings to be a great destination for him. However, the Nuggets apparently were not moved by what he brought to the table. That is a reality he will have to stomach before he mounts another audition piece.
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