Lonnie Walker IV to become free agent after Spurs reportedly pull offer

The San Antonio Spurs are pulling the qualifying offer on Lonnie Walker IV, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic, making the 23-year-old shooting guard an unrestricted free agent.

Walker was a first-round pick in the 2018 NBA Draft and has started 58 games over the last four seasons with the Spurs. He's spent the majority of his career coming off the bench and finished the 2021-22 season with 12.1 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in 23.0 minutes per game. 

During the 2022 NBA Draft, the Spurs used a trio of first-round selections to add forward Jeremy Sochan (ninth overall), guard Malaki Branham (20th overall), and guard Blake Wesley (25th overall). The addition of the latter two selections made for a crowded back court. 

Earlier on Thursday, the Spurs traded starting point guard Dejounte Murray to the Atlanta Hawks for Danilo Gallinari and three more first-round picks.

San Antonio finished the 2021-22 season with a 34-48 record and were eliminated in the Play-In Tournament by the New Orleans Pelicans. It was a third straight season without a trip to the playoffs for the Spurs and the trade to send Murray away for draft picks signaled that more rebuilding is on the way for the franchise.