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

[playa-hater]

Lock up Watson and Springer on a court and don't let them out until they hit 1000 shots each.. per day..

[Hal14]

Lock up Watson and Springer on a court and don't let them out until they hit 1000 shots each.. per day..

Definitely some potential with those 2 guys. Not just this season but beyond..

[Hal14]

If he gets hurt in SL is he screwed? Or does he at least get paid something for playing in it?

He'd be pretty much screwed. I think most of the draft picks are already signed by now..some of them are getting stashed overseas so don't sign a conract (yet)..some of them will get signed right after SL ends..

Seems like they are letting Watson focus on playing in SL for now..I expect they'll sign him (either to standard contract or 2-way) very shortly after SL ends..

Don't wanna leave the poor guy hangin..

[ConstableGeneva]

Watch on YouTube

[ConstableGeneva]

Read on Twitter

Watson "expected to fill the final two-way spot."

[chakdaddy]

I think Brissett kind of did us a favor opting out.

[shackles10]

I think Brissett kind of did us a favor opting out.

Yep. Time to unleash the Twonster!

[darrendaye]

I think Brissett kind of did us a favor opting out.

Yep. Time to unleash the Twonster!

Hmmm, for those of us of a certain age we might have a tough time not going here when hearing or seeing that nickname...

[shackles10]

I think Brissett kind of did us a favor opting out.

Yep. Time to unleash the Twonster!

Hmmm, for those of us of a certain age we might have a tough time not going here when hearing or seeing that nickname...

Expectations are different lol. Also technically spelling is different from Toine's old presence. Also also we haven't seen any wiggling yet either.

[Hal14]

Read on Twitter

[sam_I_am]

Watson finally unleashed the 3 point shot and it looked very good. He could potentially fill the Grant Williams role in that he is versatile enough to defend bigs, switch on smaller players, set screens, dribble and pass a little and hit corner 3s. I still have questions about him. He looks passive at times and I worry about how he will fare in training camp against superior talent. I’m curious to see how his contract situation unfolds. If he gets a 4 year deal before training camp then we’ll know the team believes in him, obviously.

[phincsfan]

Watson finally unleashed the 3 point shot and it looked very good. He could potentially fill the Grant Williams role in that he is versatile enough to defend bigs, switch on smaller players, set screens, dribble and pass a little and hit corner 3s. I still have questions about him. He looks passive at times and I worry about how he will fare in training camp against superior talent. I’m curious to see how his contract situation unfolds. If he gets a 4 year deal before training camp then we’ll know the team believes in him, obviously.

I don't think it's necessarily being passive, I think SL is definitely a whole new world for him. He played 5 seasons at Gonzaga which is one of the best programs in the country with arguably the best college coach right now. Could be he's used to a system and not just "going for his", like many SL players.

Little snapple fact for Watson. Out of the entire draft class, he's played the most games with the same college program (151). IMO, he's used to a certain type of play.

[Hal14]

I don't think it's necessarily being passive, I think SL is definitely a whole new world for him. He played 5 seasons at Gonzaga which is one of the best programs in the country with arguably the best college coach right now. Could be he's used to a system and not just "going for his", like many SL players.

Agreed. I'd also just add that a lot of times when he has the ball, it might seem like he's being passive but he's actually being patient - letting the play develop. Or passing up an open look at a 3 to drive and kick the ball back out to a much better shooter (Scheierman) for an open look at a 3.

A few times now he's given up a good shot (for himself) for a great shot (for a teammate). D-white did that a lot when he first got to Boston. People on here would go nuts saying that he's gotta shoot! And I was like, well he gave up that open 3 to pass it to Rob for an easy dunk, or passed it to a much better shooter (like Al or Pritchard) for an open 3 so it was the right basketball play.

Little snapple fact for Watson. Out of the entire draft class, he's played the most games with the same college program (151). IMO, he's used to a certain type of play.

Ironic, considering his coach at Gonzaga was Mark Few. lol

[cl2117]

Watson finally unleashed the 3 point shot and it looked very good. He could potentially fill the Grant Williams role in that he is versatile enough to defend bigs, switch on smaller players, set screens, dribble and pass a little and hit corner 3s. I still have questions about him. He looks passive at times and I worry about how he will fare in training camp against superior talent. I’m curious to see how his contract situation unfolds. If he gets a 4 year deal before training camp then we’ll know the team believes in him, obviously.

I don't think it's necessarily being passive, I think SL is definitely a whole new world for him. He played 5 seasons at Gonzaga which is one of the best programs in the country with arguably the best college coach right now. Could be he's used to a system and not just "going for his", like many SL players.

Little snapple fact for Watson. Out of the entire draft class, he's played the most games with the same college program (151). IMO, he's used to a certain type of play.

I would say the other thing with Watson is that it seems like he knows what his role/function would be and he's not trying to do more just because this is summer league, which is a really mature approach. Compare that to Jordan Walsh, who seems like at times he's trying to take this as an opportunity to showcase that he can do more. I love that Watson isn't just jacking up shots because he can and focusing more on what he should be doing.

Even with his three point shooting, I don't mind if he's more hesitant/passive, as long as he's willing to put it up when he's completely left alone. He nailed one from dead center on a dribble hand-off where both defenders went with House on the drive to the basket. Watson surveyed the situation, held onto the ball a little longer than you'd probably like, but ultimately took and nailed the shot.

If he can take those and make enough to have teams not be able to give him the Giddey/RWB "dare you to shoot" space, that could be enough for him to be a net positive player with how strong his defensive chops seem to be. The same goes for Tillman, an average 3pt shot on open/wide open looks takes their entire game to the next level given their defense and the fact that they do a lot of other little things well.

If they both take the next step and we've got a 3/4 and 4/5 versions of the same sort of do-it-all player that we can put 4 all-stars around, we're going to be just fine while KP is out and unstoppable when he's healthy.

[phincsfan]

I really think the NBA game will suit Watson very well. Spacing does wonders for players. He'll get pushed around a little but they all do in the beginning. If he gets dumped in Maine for most of the season I'll be disappointed.

[darrendaye]

Curious to see how effective he will be as a rebounder, particularly if they use him on occasion as a small ball 5. His defensive profile likely not to include much in the way of shot blocking, but he will be a ball swiper and deflector with those fast hands.

[poopship]

Looks kind of low energy but also seems to be very deliberate. Like to see him really nail the system stuff or whatever and go after it more.

[sam_I_am]

Looks kind of low energy but also seems to be very deliberate. Like to see him really nail the system stuff or whatever and go after it more.

Passive and low energy apply even more on the defensive end. I don’t mind at all that he is patient on offense and isn’t always looking for his shot. In the last game when he was instructed to take a lot of 3s he did and looked good doing it. I just expected more energy defensively. IMHO, there have been a few too many plays for my liking where he just watched. I am still intrigued and think the last 2-way spot is where he belongs.

[phincsfan]

Yesterdays game was lots of activity from Dallas. They had good size and they were all over the place. It's all about adjustment after watching the video. Gino will be fine IMO.

Watch on YouTube

[shackles10]

You might remember him as Joe the policeman on the “What’s happenin now” episode of “That’s My Mama”… give it up for Jackson Height’s own Mr. Anton Watson!