San Antonio Spurs: Complete 2018 offseason grades

Drafting Lonnie Walker IV

The San Antonio Spurs took Lonnie Walker IV with the No. 18 pick in the 2018 NBA Draft. He should probably have gone higher, but due to injury concerns he fell to the Spurs, and they wasted no time in snatching him up.

Walker is a very talented player and seems like a genuinely good person as well. He is loyal to his hometown of Reading, Pennsylvania, and if all goes well, we may see him in a Spurs uniform for a long time to come.

Walker averaged 11.5 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game in his one year at the University of Miami. He shot 73.8 percent from the free throw line and 34.6 percent from 3-point range. His athleticism and scoring ability will be of great value to a Spurs team that is at times clumsy and struggles to create shots off the dribble.

Walker should have a good chance to crack the rotation this upcoming season, provided he can stay healthy. He has an injury history and many were concerned when he went down during NBA Summer League play. Bad omen or freak accident? It’s hard to say. Luckily, the injury wasn’t serious and he should be ready to go for the season opener.

Grade: A