Not many, if at all, would pencil the Philadelphia 76ers in on the losing column of the offseason. The franchise underwent a pleasant 180 this summer, and quickly pivoted after yet another disappointing booting out in the most recent iteration of the playoffs.
The standard roster, as it currently stands, has room for another player with training camp slated to open in a month. Most rotation-caliber cogs have now found new — or stayed with old — takers, but one name in particular has just been plucked off the open market by Philly’s biggest nemesis.
Did the 76ers just blow a massive opportunity? Maybe not, but probably yes.
The 76ers just blew a massive opportunity as Celtics steal Lonnie Walker
As if they needed more ammunition on the scoring department, the Boston Celtics just signed free agent wing Lonnie Walker IV just a few moments after the social media general managers wondered why he remained unsigned.
Walker, still just 25, saw a pretty cold market for his services in free agency. Still, he was a very effective microwave scorer for the Nets last season, though injuries limited his appearances for the struggling squad. He’s also just a tad more than a calendar year removed from basically winning a playoff game for the Lakers.
The 76ers have an abundance of guards, but what they have on that end is a top-heavy platoon. They definitely could have used Walker as an athletic resort who offers three-level shot creation in spurts and freakish athleticism that augments his defensive resistance.
Walker, despite his erratic decision-making, has the stylings of a switchable wing who can thrive within the 76ers’ dynamic offensive profile. Nick Nurse has had a hand turning previously one-dimensional role players into functional and versatile tools, just like he did with Kelly Oubre Jr.
For now, missing out on Walker will be an omission hardly felt, but the 76ers would definitely be on the way of a direct assault should he be unleashed in Boston, a team widely favored to repeat after a dominant run last season.