Appreciation Thread, Anton Watson (Boston/Maine) – (Waived March 2, 2025)

[Gant]

Michael Scotto

The New York Knicks have claimed two-way player Anton Watson, league sources told
@hoopshypeofficial.bsky.social

[phincsfan]

Michael Scotto

The New York Knicks have claimed two-way player Anton Watson, league sources told
@hoopshypeofficial.bsky.social

I bet he does fine because the Knicks are not a 3 point shooting focused team.

[shackles10]

Felt like his only chance at making it was if he could come in and be a "glue guy" and in those circumstances either you've got "it" or you don't. He's got a bit of everything but not standout at any one aspect in particular, so it's really all got to come together otherwise the sum of the parts isn't enough to stick.

This article about him being a "Skeleton Key" player got me super hyped on his potential:

https://www.noceilingsnba.com/p/anton-watson-is-this-years-skeleton

Especially given how talented the rest of our roster was it felt like it could be a really good marriage. He doesn't need to be elite at any one skillset as long as he could be passable at all of them. Play good switchable defense, keep the ball moving, respectable three, high energy etc. When you list it out like that it does seem like a lot to ask but the bar in each area isn't necessarily all that high. Be a guy who can "fill the space" between more talented players and it ultimately elevates your game (Derrick White is the epitome of this on our current roster).

Given time to get up to speed at the next level he might reach that potential eventually because he does seem to have that broad set of skills, but he's not there yet. So it's probably right to cut bait because it's going to take time/minutes to develop that and we don't have either for him really.

I was pretty devastated that Quinten Post, who was my 2nd round binkie, got snagged two picks before we got Anton. But I got on the Watson train and was hoping he could eventually be that "skeleton key" guy for us. Wish him the best of luck, hope he gets there eventually.

I think tough for him at his draft status (lower pick, not something who slipped from higher ranking either) to earn a real roster spot with anyone, and not just a very talented Celtics roster, being just a glue guy in the G-League even though. Doesn't seem like he's been more than that even in Maine. Even most guys who are glue guys league wide were much more in levels below the NBA. No problem if we had kept him, but also agree with you it's probably time to cut bait but think it's the case if the guy isn't excelling as a defender, shooter, scorer, playmaker, at least something in the G-League. Wishing him luck as well, and even more luck to his replacement.

[Curmudgeon]

Europe

[Luv those Knicks]

Michael Scotto

The New York Knicks have claimed two-way player Anton Watson, league sources told
@hoopshypeofficial.bsky.social

I bet he does fine because the Knicks are not a 3 point shooting focused team.

I don't know if you're interested in waved players, but the early assessment is that he's not good. He played 5 minutes of garbage time in last night's blowout. Knick fans are saying that he moves like an old man on the court.

Most 2nd round picks don't make it. I was hopeful that he'd be something, but early fan reviews are pretty negative:

viewtopic.php?f=24&t=2446207&start=34

[phincsfan]

Michael Scotto

The New York Knicks have claimed two-way player Anton Watson, league sources told
@hoopshypeofficial.bsky.social

I bet he does fine because the Knicks are not a 3 point shooting focused team.

I don't know if you're interested in waved players, but the early assessment is that he's not good. He played 5 minutes of garbage time in last night's blowout. Knick fans are saying that he moves like an old man on the court.

Most 2nd round picks don't make it. I was hopeful that he'd be something, but early fan reviews are pretty negative:

viewtopic.php?f=24&t=2446207&start=34

Be happy that he actually played minutes in the bigs.

[31to6]

Michael Scotto

The New York Knicks have claimed two-way player Anton Watson, league sources told
@hoopshypeofficial.bsky.social

I bet he does fine because the Knicks are not a 3 point shooting focused team.

I don't know if you're interested in waved players, but the early assessment is that he's not good. He played 5 minutes of garbage time in last night's blowout. Knick fans are saying that he moves like an old man on the court.

Most 2nd round picks don't make it. I was hopeful that he'd be something, but early fan reviews are pretty negative:

viewtopic.php?f=24&t=2446207&start=34

If you're interested in making Watson look less like an old man, maybe we could interest you in acquiring Xavier Tillman to play next to him?

[we have been complaining about Xavier Tillman moving like he's about 45 years old. That is the joke]

[Luv those Knicks]

I bet he does fine because the Knicks are not a 3 point shooting focused team.

I don't know if you're interested in waved players, but the early assessment is that he's not good. He played 5 minutes of garbage time in last night's blowout. Knick fans are saying that he moves like an old man on the court.

Most 2nd round picks don't make it. I was hopeful that he'd be something, but early fan reviews are pretty negative:

viewtopic.php?f=24&t=2446207&start=34

Be happy that he actually played minutes in the bigs.

I'm sure it was a dream come true for him, though he shot 0 for 3. Fan's can be so harsh, saying "this guy stinks", but that's the nature of sports I think.

I wonder if he'd have gotten the game ball if he'd made a basket. Do rookies get the game ball for their first points? I tried googling that without success.

[31to6]

I don't know if you're interested in waved players, but the early assessment is that he's not good. He played 5 minutes of garbage time in last night's blowout. Knick fans are saying that he moves like an old man on the court.

Most 2nd round picks don't make it. I was hopeful that he'd be something, but early fan reviews are pretty negative:

viewtopic.php?f=24&t=2446207&start=34

Be happy that he actually played minutes in the bigs.

I'm sure it was a dream come true for him, though he shot 0 for 3. Fan's can be so harsh, saying "this guy stinks", but that's the nature of sports I think.

I wonder if he'd have gotten the game ball if he'd made a basket. Do rookies get the game ball for their first points? I tried googling that without success.

They do if it's the Pacers and it can tick off Giannis!
https://apnews.com/article/pacers-bucks-game-ball-ec6d06246ef2c24e8135da3a1b0c881c

[playa-hater]

I bet he does fine because the Knicks are not a 3 point shooting focused team.

I don't know if you're interested in waved players, but the early assessment is that he's not good. He played 5 minutes of garbage time in last night's blowout. Knick fans are saying that he moves like an old man on the court.

Most 2nd round picks don't make it. I was hopeful that he'd be something, but early fan reviews are pretty negative:

viewtopic.php?f=24&t=2446207&start=34

If you're interested in making Watson look less like an old man, maybe we could interest you in acquiring Xavier Tillman to play next to him?

[we have been complaining about Xavier Tillman moving like he's about 45 years old. That is the joke]

This just seems so wrong... Poor X-man.. always getting picked on .

[Luv those Knicks]

They do if it's the Pacers and it can tick off Giannis!
https://apnews.com/article/pacers-bucks-game-ball-ec6d06246ef2c24e8135da3a1b0c881c

That's hilarious. I'm glad the pacers gave the ball to the rookie for his first points, and Giannis going to the Pacers' lockerroom demanding the ball, that's funny.

Not quite as funny, but Wemby once tossed a potentially contested game ball into the stands. Wemby had 40/20. Brunson scored a career best 61, but the Knicks lost, so Brunson didn't care. Looks like Wemby didn't care about the ball either.

https://www.the-sun.com/sport/10948405/knicks-jalen-brunsons-reaction-wembanyama-61-point/