The Celtics have waived rookie forward Anton Watson, the team announced Sunday evening.
Boston selected Watson with the 54th pick of the 2024 NBA Draft. The 24-year-old forward did not appear in any games for the Celtics this season. He averaged 12.1 points, five rebounds, and two assists per game for G-League affiliate Maine.
Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens said before the draft that he liked Watson’s strength and versatility. He had hoped that the Celtics would develop him into a hybrid forward that could guard multiple positions.
Stevens also said that he wanted Watson to come in and “let it fly” in Maine. Watson had improved his 3-point shooting percentage every year while he was in college. He shot 42.6 percent from the field and 30.8 percent from 3-point range with the Maine Celtics.
The 6-foot-8, 225-pound forward is second on Gonzaga’s all-time list for steals. He spent five seasons with the program and became a starter over his final two seasons.
The deadline to sign players to two-way contracts is March 4. The Celtics have JD Davison and Baylor Scheierman signed to two-way deals. Watson’s release opens up a two-way spot. Teams can carry three additional players on two-way contracts along with the 15-man roster.
The Celtics have 14 non-two-way players on the roster. They still have a spot to fill with a free-agent signing or a G-League promotion if they choose. If they want to add another two-way player, they’ll have to get the deal done by Tuesday.
