A couple of NBA teams have had no choice but to make tough roster decisions as we inch closer to opening day. This time, it was the Denver Nuggets’ turn. After signing Ryan Nembhard to a two-way contract and waiving KJ Simpson, they have officially waived a former Los Angeles Lakers player, just two months after issuing him a challenge.

Two league sources confirmed to The Denver Post that the Nuggets are waiving Lonnie Walker IV from his non-guaranteed Exhibit 9 training camp contract. The news has brought a swift end to the former first-round pick’s bid for an NBA comeback. But the decision leaves the Nuggets with an open 15th roster spot as they wrap their preseason schedule in LA against the Clippers and Lakers.

Walker, who spent the past 18 months playing overseas in Europe, faced a steep challenge in establishing his presence in the wing rotation from Day 1. But he failed to secure a firm foothold in head coach David Adelman’s preseason rotation. Here’s how he played.

Across Denver’s first three preseason games, the 27-year-old guard logged just 17 minutes, scoring four points on 1-for-5 shooting, with three rebounds and two assists, all with the third unit. Come to think of it, the writing was on the wall during Sunday night’s 133-128 home victory over the Chicago Bulls, when Walker did not play at all due to a coach’s decision…

Addressing the difficulty of final roster cuts during training camp, Adelman cited the Nuggets’ cap constraints.

“He has an NBA-refined game,” Adelman said of Walker. “He can score. He understands what he’s trying to do with the ball. Very good athlete. He’s been good defensively. But it’s a roster, and it’s hard to make.”

The Nuggets likely won’t rush to fill the open 15th spot either. They started last season with one spot open, too. Rather than tying up payroll on a veteran, score-first reserve, the front office decided to maintain financial flexibility.

Although open guard spots existed during the offseason, Denver’s front office leaned heavily on versatile young talent. The emergence of former Gonzaga star Ryan Nembhard, who joined Denver on a two-way contract after averaging 6.6 points and 5.3 assists with Dallas last season, alongside explosive wing Cam Whitmore and forward Bryce Hopkins, made Walker expendable.

The roster crunch was further highlighted by fellow EuroLeague signee Alpha Diallo, who earned a standard guaranteed deal and consistent second-unit minutes.

With Walker’s NBA camp stint concluding abruptly, Walker’s next basketball chapter is already taking shape, thanks to another career move off the court.

Lonnie Walker to return to the EuroLeague?

Mere hours before the Nuggets waived him, clues about Lonnie Walker IV’s next chapter had already surfaced on social media. It looks like he’s going back to European competition. Here’s why.

On Monday, Serbian sports agent Misko Raznatovic, who represents 3x NBA MVP and Nuggets centerpiece Nikola Jokic, announced on X that his agency, BeoBasket, had officially signed Walker as a new client.

“Lonnie Terrence Walker IV is our new client!” Raznatovic posted. “He shined last 2 years in Europe, playing for Zalgiris and Maccabi, while he is currently at the Denver Nuggets’ training camp! #BeoBasket”

While the training camp situation changed rapidly after that post, the heavy connection with Raznatovic fuels speculation that Walker is lining up an immediate contract with a powerhouse EuroLeague contender. His recent stints overseas also play a role here.

Walker spent the 2025–26 campaign in Israel with Maccabi Tel Aviv, where he established himself as one of the continent’s premier offensive guards. Across 45 appearances, Walker showcased elite efficiency, averaging 15.2 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game while shooting 40 percent from three.

That said, Walker also possesses decent NBA experience, although he hasn’t been able to nail down a permanent spot. After four seasons in San Antonio, where he averaged 12.1 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game in 70 games, the Lakers gave him a chance.

In LA, Walker played in 56 games, averaging a little over 23 minutes per game while shooting 44.8 percent from the field. He averaged 11.7 points a game, which was his second career-high at the time. Walker’s best scoring game came against the New Orleans Pelicans, when he scored 28 points, going 9 for 17 from the field and 5 for 9 from deep. That season, Walker even had a few standout double-digit performances against the Warriors in the playoffs.

Walker even briefly played for the 76ers in the 2024-25 season, appearing in a 20-game stint. But it was quite evident that he wasn’t able to secure a starting spot after achieving it in only seven games. Meanwhile, in his stint with the Brooklyn Nets in the 2023-24 season, Walker didn’t start any of his 58 games.

On a lighter note, Walker has also remained a topic of conversation in NBA circles after images of him practicing with WNBA player Evina Westbrook went viral.

While Walker would’ve hoped his European showcase would translate into a permanent NBA bench role, the Nuggets’ preference for younger players on cost-controlled contracts sealed his release.

As Denver travels to California for two final preseason games against the Clippers and Lakers, Walker enters the international free-agent market with a proven EuroLeague resume and top-tier representation, poised to make an immediate impact.