Nuggets linked to former Lakers playoff enemy
Feb 5, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; A view of the Denver Nuggets logo on the court prior to the game against the Milwaukee Bucks at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
With Russell Westbrook and DeAndre Jordan already in tow, another former Los Angeles Lakers may be joining the Denver Nuggets roster.
Veteran NBA writer Marc Stein reported Monday that the Nuggets have emerged as “a team to watch” for veteran guard Lonnie Walker IV. Walker recently signed a contract with EuroLeague team Zalgiris Kaunas in Lithuania but has an NBA out in his deal through mid-February.
The 25-year-old Walker, a former first-round pick is widely seen as one of the best available NBA free agents out there. He averaged 9.7 points and 2.2 rebounds in under 18 minutes per contest last season for the Brooklyn Nets and was also a standout for the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2022-23 NBA campaign. Walker had some big playoff heroics for the Lakers that year and got rotation minutes against the Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals (which Denver swept 4-0).
At 3-3 on the season, the Nuggets have struggled to replace Kentavious Caldwell-Pope’s production on the wing (Caldwell-Pope left in free agency to sign with the Orlando Magic). While Christian Braun has done a decent job stepping into the starting five, their bench wing duo of Julian Strawther and Peyton Watson leaves something to be desired. That may be where Walker can come in and help Denver.
