Celtics' clever signing may be the future of NBA deals and why expansion may follow

An intriguing development has occurred over the summer: Boston Celtics guard Lonnie Walker IV and a number of prominent NBA players have seen their market dry up. Some have yet to be offered a contract, while others have been forced to take the minimum, like Gary Trent Jr. or even an unguaranteed deal in Walker's case.

That has given contenders more cheap options than they have had in the past, with veterans willing to take Exhibit 9 or Exhibit 10 contracts, which has become popular over the summer. They are essentially training camp deals where players can sign with a team, participate in training camp, and then play in the preseason, giving them a chance to make the roster.

Generally, they are reserved for undrafted players and late second round picks, many of whom often end up in the G League playing for their parent team's affiliate. More recently, however, veterans such as Walker IV, Marcus Morris, and Nasir Little have taken contracts with the Celtics, New York Knicks, and Miami Heat.

The Boston Celtics' experimental contract with Lonnie Walker IV may be a sign of things to come.

If players such as Walker impress in training camp and in the preseason, then they can be signed to the minimum for the rest of the season. On the other hand, if they don't, then they could be waived without impacting those teams's finances. In Walker's case, he has even stated that he is willing to play in Maine for the Celtic's G League affiliate.

That would probably only happen if he were to be waived, in which case he could sign with their G League affiliate directly. That would be a shocking turn of events with a fourth-year player who played well last season willingly joining the G League just in case the Celtics choose to sign him to a 10-day deal.

The Celtics signing Walker to an unguaranteed deal proves that the time is right for NBA expansion.

Others could accept a similar offer to that just to try to make a team, which is actually a strong case for expansion. 10 years ago, the league's talent level was nowhere near where it is now and the fact that actual NBA rotation players are having to claw to make a roster proves that it has dramatically increased.

Adding two new teams would add up to 30 new NBA roster spots, with enough talent to go around. What's left in free agency may not be top-line talent.

That being said, the increase in player movement, the longevity of stars, and the number of top prospects entering the NBA every year would ensure that two new franchises would soon have enough talent to build a contender. Overall, Walker's unusual contract is a sign that the NBA has reached a talent tipping point and that it is indeed time for expansion to happen.