We are nearly two months removed from the start of free agency, and sixth-year veteran Lonnie Walker IV is still without an employer.
Currently, our Sacramento Kings have 14 (of 15) main roster spots filled, all three two-ways, and one training camp deal. In theory, that means that we can still add Walker on a veteran minimum contract (or something similar to that) if they so choose.
On Wednesday, Kings Beat Writer Brenden Nunes suggested Walker as a potential target for the Kings. But should they try to sign him?
What Do The Kings Need?
As we've discussed all offseason long, the Kings need functional size. What do I mean by that? They need a big forward who can space the floor, attack closeouts, defend, and offer some secondary rim protection.
Can Lonnie Walker IV Help The Kings?
The question now becomes: can Walker do what the Kings need from him?
As any good analyst will tell you, you need to take a holistic approach when evaluating players. That means looking at anecdotal, analytical, and actual (i.e., film analysis) information to form one's opinion.
With that said, I have found over the years that there are some statistics that offer a good proxy for how good a role player can be in the modern NBA. Some metrics I like to look at are player wingspan, 3-point percentage, 3-point attempts per 75, true shooting percentage on drives, drives per 36 minutes, Defensive Estimated-Plus Minus (DEF EPM), steal rate, and block rate.
Statistic | Output (Percentile) |
|---|---|
Wingspan | 6'10.5 (49th) |
3-Point % | 38.4% (69th) |
3-Point Attempts per 75 Possessions | 9.8 (96th) |
True Shooting on Drives | 54% (50th) |
Drives per 36 Minutes | 8.6 (65th) |
Defensive Estimated Plus-Minus | 0.0 (63rd percentile) |
Steal Rate | 1.5% (59th) |
Block Rate | 1.8% (57th) |
(Sidebar: All data from the chart above was taken from Dunks & Threes and the Thinking Basketball database.)
Despite his height (6'3.745), Walker has a really solid wingspan (6'10.5). He's also a great spacer – 96th percentile in 3-point attempts per 75 (remember, shooting volume is more important for spacing than shooting efficiency).
But unlike someone like Cedi Osman, Walker is able to combine his wingspan and shooting with a sound drive game (average efficiency on above-average volume) and slightly above-average defense.
Bottom Line
I think Walker is a really nice role player, and I'm honestly shocked that some team has not picked him up yet. I could see a world where he's this year's Derrick Jones Jr. – a journeyman free agent who signs a minimum contract in August and ends up making a big impact on his new team.
However, even with his nearly seven-foot wingspan, I don't think he addresses the Kings' size problem. As we said, he's not even 6'4, and his skillset is pretty redundant to some players we already have on our roster (Keon Ellis and Devin Carter).
Overall, I would not use a roster spot on Walker if I were the Kings.
During his career, Walker has spent time with the San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Lakers, and Brooklyn Nets. He owns career averages of 9.8 PPG, 2.3 RPG, and 1.5 APG.