Lonnie Walker wasn’t about to give up on his NBA dream. After going unsigned last season, he took his game over to Lithuania, basically saying, ‘Yeah, I still got this.’ And just like that, he’s back in the league. The Philadelphia 76ers saw what he could bring to the table and snapped him up on a two-year deal. Walker has spent six years making an impact off the bench, including a memorable stint with the Lakers. Now, he’s bringing that same energy to Philly.

The Sixers wanted to add some fresh legs around their Big 3, so they went out and grabbed Lonnie Walker. Instead of staying overseas, he’s now back in the league, ready to prove he belongs.

Walker isn’t just about athleticism—though he’s got plenty of it. He can stretch the floor with his three-point shot and hold his own defensively. And it’ll be put to test by the Brooklyn Nets. Nick Nurse just confirmed Walker is set to hit the court for the Sixers on Saturday.

“Lonnie, he’s here. Full participant at practice…he’s obviously not alone right now. As you can see, all these new-ish guys are still trying to get caught up on some of the basics, him especially. But he’s athletic—lot of pop. He can score the basketball. He’s kind of a combo—probably more of a 2-scoring guard. We’ll see what he’s got,” Nurse said.

Walker has been on quite the ride. After spending training camp and preseason with the Celtics, he didn’t make the final roster, leaving him searching for another opportunity. Brooklyn didn’t lock him down long-term either, even though he put up 10 points per game and shot 38% from three in 58 appearances off the bench.

Before that, Walker had a solid stint with the Lakers, dropping 12 points per game on 45% shooting in 56 games. But his NBA story started in San Antonio, where he built a steady role over four seasons with the Spurs. Now, after bouncing around, he’s hoping this next chapter sticks.

The 76ers need him too because they’re probably going to shut down Joel Embiid and Paul George. Right now, they’re locked in a battle with Brooklyn for the sixth and seventh spots in the draft lottery. If their pick doesn’t land in the top six, it’s heading straight to OKC.

Embiid’s injury and PG’s inconsistent play—made worse by his ongoing physical issues—have put the team in a tough spot. So, what’s the best move? They’ve got to focus on keeping Embiid healthy while strategically racking up losses to hold on to that pick.

The 76ers need to protect their pick

At this point, there’s no point in sugarcoating things. The Sixers have now lost six straight, and each game has been a new level of brutal. Somehow, they’re still just 1.5 games out of the Play-In, but let’s be honest—that dream is cooked.

Injuries aren’t even a valid excuse anymore. Most of the roster is playing, and the effort is still painful to watch. Embiid doesn’t look right, and George’s pinky injury somehow requires enough pain management to make it sound like he’s prepping for surgery. There’s talk of shutting both guys down, and honestly? Probably the right call. The team needs to prioritize keeping their top-6 pick protected instead of chasing a dead-end season.

Speaking of tanking, the Sixers are 20-35, tied with Brooklyn for the sixth-worst record in the league. And who do they face tonight? The Nets. Brooklyn kicked off their tank early by moving Mikal Bridges and Dorian Finney-Smith. Their roster looks straight out of a simulated MyLeague season, yet they still managed to beat Philly two weeks ago.

The injury report? The Sixers are missing Justin Edwards, Eric Gordon, Kyle Lowry, and Jared McCain. Brooklyn is down D’Angelo Russell, Cam Thomas, Noah Clowney, and De’Anthony Melton. But hey, maybe Quentin Grimes or Jared Butler do something fun. Maybe Maxey catches fire.