The Celtics released rookie two-way forward Anton Watson on Sunday after the team’s win over the Denver Nuggets.
Watson, 24, was the No. 54 overall draft pick by Boston in the 2024 NBA Draft. The team signed him to a two-way contract in August and he spent the majority of the season suiting up for the Maine Celtics.
Watson did not appear in a game for the Celtics during the regular season, suiting up for Boston in just three preseason games. The 6-foot-8 forward did make 21 appearances with the Maine Celtics in the G-League, posting 12.0 points and 5.4 rebounds per game in 18 starts. However, his efficiency numbers were underwhelming, shooting just 42.8 percent from the field and 30.8 percent from 3-point range.
With Watson released, the Celtics will have two days to sign a player to a two-way contract before the March 4th NBA deadline, if they elect to fill the open spot. A league source told MassLive that Boston plans to consider their options ahead of Tuesday’s deadline. Several other teams around the league have made moves involving two-way players in recent days ahead of Tuesday’s deadline.
Boston’s other two-way slots are currently filled by Drew Peterson and JD Davison. With Jrue Holiday currently dealing with a finger injury with an uncertain recovery timetable, the team could be looking to add some extra experienced backcourt depth.
