The Lakers have added another name to the mix as training camp draws closer, signing former Gonzaga swingman Anton Watson after a busy offseason that has already seen plenty of roster movement in Los Angeles.
Watson brings a solid résumé with him. The Lakers said in their release: “The Los Angeles Lakers have signed forward Anton Watson. Watson (6’8″, 225) appeared in 50 games (34 starts) for the South Bay Lakers during the 2025-26 season, averaging 11.0 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.4 steals in 27.3 minutes.”
“Originally selected 54th overall by Boston in the 2024 NBA Draft, Watson played five seasons at Gonzaga, earning All-WCC First Team honors as a senior.”
At 6-foot-8 and 225 pounds, Watson has the frame teams want on the wing, but his value goes beyond size. He’s viewed as a smart, versatile defender, and his college numbers back up that reputation. During his senior year at Gonzaga, he averaged 1.5 steals, 0.7 blocks and 2.3 personal fouls per game, a sign of steady defensive presence rather than flash.
That defensive profile is part of what makes him interesting for a Lakers team that has spent much of the offseason trying to reinforce its wing depth. Los Angeles has added talent in that area, and Watson gives them another perimeter option who can bring energy and discipline on that end.
There’s also a scoring element to his game that could help. In his senior season, Watson shot 57.8% from the field and 41.2% from three-point range, numbers that point toward a possible 3-and-D role. His G League production last season was less efficient, though, as he shot 51.9% from the field and 33.9% from deep, suggesting he may be most effective when he’s moving without the ball.
The upside is clear, but so are the questions. Watson isn’t known for elite athleticism, and while he competes hard, he doesn’t bring the kind of speed or leaping ability that usually makes a wing stand out right away in the NBA. He also isn’t a dependable shot creator or a consistent threat from the perimeter, which means he leans on teammates to get him involved.
His free-throw numbers add another layer of concern. Watson shot 65.3% from the line in his final college season and improved to 70.6% in the G League, but those marks don’t exactly scream reliable offensive weapon.
As for his chances in Los Angeles, the path is crowded. The Lakers already have wing depth that includes Jake LaRavia, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Ziaire Williams, and Matisse Thybulle, giving them several players who can contribute right away. Watson’s defensive IQ and versatility fit what the team wants, but he has a lot of competition in front of him.
Roster math makes things even tougher. The Lakers currently have 16 players on standard contracts, so at least one move has to come before the season starts. Their three two-way spots are already spoken for as well, which means Watson’s best shot is to make noise in training camp and force the issue.
It’s not a guaranteed path, but it is a real opportunity. For Watson, this signing gives him a chance to show that his game can translate and keep him in the conversation for a spot on the Lakers’ roster.
In Other News...
Lakers Quietly Found A Needed Future Boost During Their Reset
With LeBron James choosing Philadelphia after briefly weighing retirement, the Lakers have had to keep recalibrating their present and their future at the same time. One of the quieter moves in that process came when they sent center Deandre Ayton to the Wizards and brought back guard Jaden Hardy along with two future second-round picks, a deal that fit the teams shifting roster picture without demanding much public attention.
Hardy gives Los Angeles another young guard to evaluate, while the extra draft capital matters for a team trying to stay competitive now and still keep some flexibility for later. In a season defined by turnover, those kinds of moves can end up mattering as much as the louder ones, especially for a front office trying to balance immediate needs with what comes next. [Read more 🡒]
Lakers Fans May View Walker Kessler Very Differently After This Center Market Twist
Walker Kesslers new deal gives the Lakers a useful way to frame one of their biggest recent bets at center. The sign-and-trade cost two first-round picks and landed them a 25-year-old big on a four-year, $140 million contract, but the appeal has always been tied to what he can do on defense. Rim protection and rebounding are the selling points, and in a market where capable centers can command eye-catching money, that kind of fit matters.
Jalen Durens contract talks have only sharpened that argument. He reportedly opened with a five-year, $287 million max ask before lowering his price to around $40 million annually, with Detroit hoping to pay less than that. Against that backdrop, Los Angeles can at least point to the center market and say the Kessler investment may not look as steep as it once did, especially if his defensive impact becomes what the Lakers envisioned. [Read more 🡒]
Lakers Just Sent Another Training Camp Message Ahead Of Media Day
With training camp set to open Sept. 28 and the preseason less than a week later on Oct. 5, the Lakers are already making small roster moves that hint at how they want the next few weeks to unfold. Los Angeles signed guards Meechie Johnson and Chase Ross to Exhibit 10 contracts while waiving forward Anton Watson, a familiar sort of shuffle for this stage of the calendar as teams sort out camp bodies and set up their developmental pipeline.
Watson is expected to end up with the Coachella Valley Lakers, giving the organization another young player in position to stay in the system if he performs well enough. The Lakers will get five preseason games to sort through the details, with matchups against the Sacramento Kings, Golden State Warriors and Denver Nuggets offering an early look at how the roster pieces fit before the real games begin. [Read more 🡒]