The Denver Nuggets have been piecing together their offseason under tight financial limits, and one of the more intriguing additions is now official: Lonnie Walker IV is signed and in the building on a non-guaranteed camp deal.
That makes Walker one of the more interesting low-risk, high-uncertainty names in Denver’s mix as the team tries to support Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray without much wiggle room. It’s the kind of move that can fly under the radar at first, then become a real roster story once camp opens.
The signing had already been reported before it became official on Thursday. Marc Stein noted that Walker, who had been seeking a return to the NBA, reached a one-year deal with Denver after his pact with Maccabi Tel Aviv included a July 15 NBA out deadline. Stein also reported that Walker was granted an exit even though Denver’s offer didn’t surface until August.
The contract itself leaves plenty of uncertainty. Keith Smith reported that Walker’s deal is a non-guaranteed camp agreement, which means he is essentially competing for one of the final spots on the roster. There is no security attached to it, and he could be without a team again in a little over a month if things don’t break his way.
That’s the gamble here. Walker has made $21 million in his career, but Denver is still weighing whether he can provide the level of play it needs if he sticks. It’s a risk for the player and the team alike, and one the Nuggets will sort out over the next few weeks.
Walker joins a Denver offseason that has also included the signing of DeMar DeRozan to a one-year deal at the veteran’s minimum. Evan Sidery reported that DeRozan would help fill the void left behind by Peyton Watson in Denver’s wing rotation.
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What makes the comments interesting for Denver is how they fit with the way Jokic sees competition itself. He gave a nod to several of the leagues more physical big men, including Ivica Zubac and Jusuf Nurkic, as tough matchups because of how they bang in the post and make every possession uncomfortable. For Nuggets fans, it is another reminder that Jokic is still thinking about the game in a very old-school way, even as the expectations around him keep growing. [Read more 🡒]