Nets fully guarantee Royce O’Neale, sign Lonnie Walker IV and Dariq Whitehead

The Nets made a series of moves Monday to firm up the team’s roster.

In the morning, Royce O’Neale, who the Nets acquired with a first round pick from the James Harden trade last year, has had his expiring contract fully guaranteed by the Nets. Mike Scotto of Hoopshype was first with the news.

O’Neale whose guarantee been $2.5 million was quick to confirm and express gratitude...

Early in the season, O’Neale had been one of the NBA leaders in minutes but ultimately finished 34th.

By keeping O’Neale, the Nets also preserved their rights to trade the 6’6” 3-and-D wing who recently celebrated his 30th birthday. O’Neale along with Dorian Finney-Smith has reportedly been on the trading block for months, their skill sets somewhat overlapping.

Later on Monday the Nets signed free agent Lonnie Walker IV, 24, to a one-year vets minimum deal worth a little more than $2 million and rookie Dariq Whitehead, 18, to a four-year rookie deal worth a little less $3 million.

Walker IV averaged a career-high 11.7 points on shooting splits of 45/37/86 in 23 minutes last season. He started 32 regular season games for the Lakers. Then in L.A.s run to the Western Conference Finals, he put up 6.2 points per game. in 14 minutes on 48/38/75 shooting. Walker IV scored 15 points in the fourth quarter of the Lakers Game 4 win over the Warriors in the Western conference semi-finals.

Whitehead, beset by a foot injury that required two surgeries, averaged 8.3 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game in his lone season at Duke while shooting 42.1% from the field and 42.9% from 3-point range. He is not expected back until October or November.

The three moves follow Dennis Smith Jr.’s signing on Saturday.

Once Noah Clowney is officially signed, the Nets will have 14 players under contract. That includes Edmond Sumner who has a team option for next season that originally was set to expire on July 6. However, both sides agreed to extend the deadline through Saturday.