3 restricted free agents Toronto Raptors could overpay in offseason
By Mike Luciano
2. Lonnie Walker, San Antonio Spurs
Walker could be on his way out of San Antonio. On top of the fact that the Spurs are likely trying to build around Dejounte Murray, Josh Primo, and Devin Vassel in the backcourt, San Antonio will probably use the No. 9 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft on a guard that can slide right into Walker’s old role.
Walker averaged 12.1 points per game with the Spurs last season, but his efficiency slipped. Even with those unsightly numbers, Walker has proven he can be a nice complementary scorer and shooter in this league. Toronto would do wise to pry him away from the Spurs.
Lonnie Walker will have some appeal for the Toronto Raptors.
Walker is several tiers better than Svi Mykhailiuk as a scorer, which could help Toronto find a proven scorer in the second unit that they lacked last year. Still just 23 years old, the former first-round pick’s best basketball is in the windshield, not the rearview mirror.
Walker needs to pick a spot that is willing to put up with some of the cold streaks in the name of developing him as a player. Nick Nurse and Toronto could give him that environment while finally giving the former Hurricane a chance to contribute to a fringe top-half team.