LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Lakers signed forward Anton Watson to a training camp deal and immediately waived the former Gonzaga standout on Friday, Sept. 18, in a procedural move similar to the Phoenix Suns' recent deal with point guard David Stockton. The Lakers also announced they have signed Meechie Johnson and Chase Ross while waiving Watson as part of the training camp transactions.
Watson, a Spokane, Washington native, appeared in seven NBA Summer League games with the Lakers, averaging 7.6 points on 34.0% from the field, 19.2% from three and 100% from the free-throw line, along with 2.9 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 20.7 minutes per contest. He was selected with the No. 54 overall pick in the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics and was claimed off waivers by the New York Knicks in March 2025, where he averaged 0.9 points, 0.3 rebounds and 0.2 assists in nine appearances.
Watson was signed by Los Angeles in September 2025 after the conclusion of the 2025 season and will most likely join the G League's Coachella Valley Lakers. The Exhibit 10-style training camp structure allows Los Angeles to retain his G League rights while reshaping its camp roster around Johnson and Ross.