Portland Trail Blazers: 3 shooting guards to target in NBA Free Agency

Portland Trail Blazers free agency shooting guard target: Lonnie Walker IV

Lonnie Walker IV is basically what the Portland Trail Blazers are hoping Keon Johnson becomes one day and still has room to grow.

At 6’4 with a 6’10 wingspan, he has exceptional size for a guard and has the length to match up with wings on the perimeter. His mind will have to catch up to his body before he becomes an impactful defender, but the tools are certainly there.

Also equipped with a 40″ inch max vertical, there’s a reason the former Miami Hurricane has been dubbed the “Skywalker.”

His top-notch size and athleticism make him a force when he’s barreling towards the rim.

In 2021-2022, he’s notching 11.4 points and 2.3 assists in 23 minutes per game. His efficiency is where he needs the most work, as he’s hitting just 40 percent from the field and 30 percent from deep this season.

Walker IV has already proven to be a pretty effective volume scorer and his aggressiveness could make him the perfect guard to keep the Trail Blazers’ offense rolling when Dame and/or Ant needs a breather.

While his vision still needs nurturing, his natural ability to get to the rim can draw multiple defenders and he has the passing chops to at least find shooters on the perimeter or bigs for dump-offs.

Walker IV won’t come cheap, as he won’t turn 24 until December and still has loads of potential. The San Antonio Spurs, though, have an abundance of young talent at guard with him, Dejounte Murray, and newly drafted Joshua Primo.

If Portland could steal him away for their mid-level exception, they’ll have a fearsome tandem of young guards that could dominate the league for years to come between him and Anfernee Simons.