According to The Boston Globe’s Adam Himmelsbach, the Celtics plan on signing second round draft pick Anton Watson to a two-way contract for the upcoming 2024-2025 season.
After being drafted 54th overall, the 23-year-old out of Gonzaga averaged 11.8 points in 24.4 minutes in five Summer League games including hitting 35% of his three pointers and playing solid front court defense.
Anton Watson smiled after I asked if he was anticipating signing a two-way contract:
“I think we’re going to figure that out sometime this week. Those conversations are definitely coming.” pic.twitter.com/saavg7g29I
— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzellNBA) July 21, 2024
“What sticks out is the defensive versatility and the strength physically to absorb drives, stay between his man and the rim without fouling,” SL head coach D.J. MacLeay said. “It is a unique skillset, and he has the potential to be a really unique defender for us.”
Watson is somewhat undersized as a big man at 6’7, 241 pounds, but in college, he proved to be a solid defender, rebounder, and maybe most importantly, a floor spacer. Sound familiar?
“Shooting is obviously a big piece. Kind of like that Al Horford role. He’s a great shooter. I think learning from him is going to be huge for me and actually all the veterans on this team,” Watson said of his game and how it might translate to the NBA. “Shooting is going to be huge and just my defense, using that to my strengths and coming out and guarding every single game. That’s going to be big for me. Yeah, shooting is going to open up my offensive ability, but defense is where I’m strong at.”
Watson joins returning two-ways JD Davison and Drew Peterson as Maine-Boston commuters. The Celtics will now retain some flexibility heading into the rest of offseason and potentially into next year with their final roster spot unfilled.
