The Nuggets have extended their reach across the Atlantic Ocean twice in one summer.
In their latest outside-the-box acquisition, they’re plucking Lonnie Walker IV from the EuroLeague team Maccabi Tel Aviv, a league source told The Denver Post on Wednesday night, confirming a report by ESPN’s Shams Charania. Walker, 27, is signing a one-year veteran minimum contract to return to the NBA after spending parts of the last two seasons overseas.
The 6-foot-4 guard averaged 14.6 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists during his time in the EuroLeague. He joins Alpha Diallo as the second free agent to sign with Denver out of the EuroLeague this offseason.
Before venturing east — he also played a stint with the Lithuanian club Zalgiris Kaunas — Walker was settling into a career as an NBA journeyman. He’s played 342 games and started 95 across seven NBA seasons, primarily for the Spurs. San Antonio drafted him with the 18th overall pick in the 2018 draft out of Miami. He went four spots after Denver selected Michael Porter Jr.
Walker has also played for the Brooklyn Nets, Los Angeles Lakers and Philadelphia 76ers. When he takes the court for Denver, he’ll be playing his first NBA minutes since April 13, 2025. He’s averaging 10 points per game in his NBA career on 42.2% shooting from the field and 35.6% from 3-point range.
In Denver, Walker will join a thin backcourt depth chart that also includes Jamal Murray, Christian Braun, Julian Strawther and Tyus Jones. The Nuggets now have 14 roster spots filled, leaving them with only one spot remaining as contract negotiations with restricted free agent Peyton Watson remain at an impasse.
Their payroll is now about $4.5 million over the second apron with the addition of Walker at a $2.45 million cap hit. His salary will be $3.3 million, according to Charania’s report. As a second apron team, Denver is limited to using the veteran minimum as its only mechanism to sign outside free agents — though Watson can be legally re-signed for any salary.
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