Lonnie Walker's lack of love given and untimely injury

[ArbitraryWater]

Walker was having his career-best year and was on a firm upward trajectory before getting injured at the end of last year.

He was a rotation player at 30 MPG who through Dec 27 (game before injury) did 15 ppg on 46% shooting (12 FGA) and just 0.9 TO's.

He was actually their best player after LeBron and AD.


Kind of dynamic player that could have scoring outbursts like a Monk. Very similar in their role and outburst potential.

Then he was injured, missed games, wasn't immediately back to his best and lost his spot. Now he's not seing the court anymore.


But the Lakers' depth is definitely stupid good.

It will be interesting to see what the Lakers will do with him in the off-season. They don't necessarily need him right now. Maybe they could get another more suitable, hole-filling piece instead. Lonnie Walker is too good not to see the court.

[Johnny32]

lonnie is walking. lakers won't even try to sign him.

[ArbitraryWater]

lonnie is walking. lakers won't even try to sign him.

Probably.

They did the same with Malik Monk and both are very good players.

As long as they won't prefer someone like Beasley over Walker, fine.

But Walker is twice the player Beasley is.

[RRR3]

Walker is hideously bad at defense there’s a reason he doesn’t play.

[Johnny32]

Walker is hideously bad at defense there’s a reason he doesn’t play.

Low IQ on both sides of the ball. He's just athletic.

[bison]

Probably.

They did the same with Malik Monk and both are very good players.

As long as they won't prefer someone like Beasley over Walker, fine.

But Walker is twice the player Beasley is.

Lonnie's one skill is scoring. At one point his scoring was needed because our offense often got stagnant due to having guys like pat bev, russ westbrook, kendrick nunn etc. But now that we dont need his scoring, he offers very little else. He doesn't have size, he's not a playmaker, he's not a defender. We have all those things in other players now (who can also score!).

Also I'm bringing back Beasley on a team option, because even if he still struggles with his 3 pt shooting next season, he has a contract you could use in trade deals to replace him with a quality role player.

[ArbitraryWater]

Walker is hideously bad at defense there’s a reason he doesn’t play.

Very false.

[RRR3]

Very false.
Literally every advanced stat will say he’s ass at defense. Go check. Ask anyone who watches the Lakers regularly they’ll tell you the same thing. You might have a point if you think he should play over Beasley since Beasley is also awful defensively. But that’s it. Everyone else in the Lakers rotation plays at least average defense with the exception of DLo and DLo is infinitely better offensively than Lonnie.

[TAZORAC]

THE MAIN REASON, he's no longer getting playing time is Austin Reaves as gotten alot better this season then he was last year, and Troy Brown started getting playing time. Brown is a better defender and more consistent 3 point shooter, although I think Walker is the better pure scorer of the 3.

Hes really buried since they signed BEASLEY who can get hot and hit 5 or 6 3's in a game.

[ArbitraryWater]

Literally every advanced stat will say he’s ass at defense. Go check. Ask anyone who watches the Lakers regularly they’ll tell you the same thing. You might have a point if you think he should play over Beasley since Beasley is also awful defensively. But that’s it. Everyone else in the Lakers rotation plays at least average defense with the exception of DLo and DLo is infinitely better offensively than Lonnie.


andddd walker was absolutely excellent today on defense and showed his worth overall

[Indian guy]

Even when Walker was getting consistent minutes he had far-and-away the worst plus/minus splits of any rotation player the team. He was decent offensively but unplayable defensively. Which made him unplayable overall. Ham had no choice but to bench him.

[ArbitraryWater]

Even when Walker was getting consistent minutes he had far-and-away the worst plus/minus splits of any rotation player the team. He was decent offensively but unplayable defensively. Which made him unplayable overall. Ham had no choice but to bench him.

terrific on both ends tonight

[SATAN]

This game aside, since being benched he has seemed completely desperate to up his trade value during garbage time. Not playing team ball, chucking too much. It's not a good look. Obviously has some talent though.

[ArbitraryWater]

This game aside, since being benched he has seemed completely desperate to up his trade value during garbage time. Not playing team ball, chucking too much. It's not a good look. Obviously has some talent though.

Not a good look? He‘s been the best player on the floor during garbage time and thus of course wanting to show he‘s still got it.

This „not a good look“ got him in the rotation last night.

[ArbitraryWater]

OP is an absolute gawd talking with literal peasants


but its ok

[ArbitraryWater]

And then you have the "well cuz defense 🤓" nerds

[PP34Deuce]

Lonnie historically is athletic and can score but has never embraced defense. He's 24 and he seemed to understand rotations and play better defense with effort.