3. Lonnie Walker IV
Walker IV was having a breakout season before injuring his hamstring. He has not played since Nov. 30 but is nearing a return. The 6’4 guard should be back well before the Feb. 8 trade deadline. Can he continue his play from the first 17 games?
Walker averaged 14.6 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in 21.3 minutes per contest. He is shooting a career-high 48.9 percent from the field and 46.3 percent from 3-point range in the early going. Nobody is going to keep up that long-range shooting, but Walker shot over 40 percent in 2020. If he is an elite shooter who gets buckets off the bench, several teams could be interested before the deadline.
The 25-year-old joined the Nets on a one-year minimum contract in the 2023 offseason. He was on the fringes of the Lakers playoff rotation last season but continues to improve. The 6’4 guard has found a fit in Brooklyn, but a contender could believe his breakout will translate to their franchise.
Lonnie Walker IV has played for three different teams in his first six NBA seasons. Will he be on a fourth after Feb. 8? If the Nets believe he leaves in free agency, they could look to get something in return for him before the trade deadline.