The Philadelphia 76ers resume play boasting a pitiful 20-34 record, 1.5 games behind the current 10th seed. While still somehow within striking distance to make the postseason, almost no one is penciling them in to make the playoffs given how ugly they played all season long on both ends of the court.
Nevertheless, as expected, the 76ers front office did not waste time trying to fill their final roster spot, signing free agent wing Lonnie Walker IV to a non-guaranteed, two-year contract. For now, the team is fully armed — on paper — to make a playoff push in their final 28 games of the regular season.
Walker, who recently played in Europe, will bring his scoring ability to the 76ers. Known as a microwave scorer, he had already played for the Spurs, Lakers, and Nets while also briefly appearing for the Celtics before getting cut before the season commenced.
The 76ers are getting something extra by adding Lonnie Walker IV
While best known for his scoring and finishing ability, Walker actually brings something to the 76ers that many tend to overlook: athleticism and shot creation. Outside of Tyrese Maxey, the team does not have a back-breaker on offense, but now, they do.
With Philly bannering the likes of Eric Gordon and Kyle Lowry in the backcourt, the team’s shot creation in the guard position has been missing. The injury to Jared McCain has only exacerbated that issue.
Even Quentin Grimes, who has emerged as the team’s nominal sixth man, is more of an opportunistic play finisher and spot-up shooter. This makes the addition of Walker even more crucial to pump some more variation to the team’s scoring attack.
While his efficiency can somewhat fluctuate drastically, Walker has the uncanny ability to seamlessly rise up for shots as a pull-up operator and attack the rim with reckless abandon. He is especially good at contorting is body to get a shot off in traffic — something completely missing from the team’s current options in the backcourt.
For a team that often gets pretty stale on offense thanks to their predictability, having someone like Walker who can put more pressure on the defense will be key to creating advantages on the hardwood. He should be in line for a solid stint on the team, so long as they are equipped and ready to handle his defensive lapses and issues as a decision-maker.
Still, the Philadelphia 76ers taking a flier on Lonnie Walker should age well given the team’s dynamics. Hopefully, both him and the team can make this partnership count.