Report: Lonnie Walker IV to sign with L.A. Lakers

Brian Smith, Reading Eagle, Pa.
·1 min read
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Jul. 1—Lonnie Walker IV is heading to Hollywood.

The Reading High grad has agreed to a one-year, $6.5 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, Shams Charania of The Athletic reported on Thursday via Twitter.

Earlier Thursday Charania had reported that the San Antonio Spurs had rescinded the qualifying offer they had tendered Wednesday, making Walker an unrestricted free agent.

"Expect a strong market for Walker immediately," Charania tweeted.

Less than two hours later came the news that Walker was heading to Los Angeles, where he will be teammates with LeBron James.

Walker, a guard, was selected by San Antonio with the 18th overall pick in the 2018 draft out of Miami.

Last season, Walker's fourth in the NBA, he averaged a career-best 12.1 points per game in 70 games. He also averaged 2.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 23 minutes per game.

In his four seasons, he has averaged 9.4 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game.

It's been a whirlwind two days for Walker.

On Wednesday, San Antonio tendered the qualifying offer — a guaranteed one-year contract worth $6.3 million as set by the NBA's collective bargaining agreement. By tendering the offer, San Antonio made Walker a restricted free agent, meaning it would have had 48 hours to match any offer sheets that Walker would receive from another team.

Walker was not expected to accept the qualifying offer.

By withdrawing the offer, the Spurs created salary cap flexibility on the day the league's free agent negotiating period began.

And Walker suddenly has a new NBA home.