Taking a look at the Atlanta Hawks’ signing of Paul Watson, and what it may indicate for the roster’s health.
Shortly after defeating the Indiana Pacers on Saturday night, the Atlanta Hawks announced the signing of Paul Watson to a 10-day contract.
The Atlanta Hawks are signing G/F Paul Watson of G League’s Raptors 905 to a 10-day contract, league sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 5, 2020
Paul Watson, an undrafted guard out of Fresno State, is currently in his third year on a G-League team, but has yet to sniff an NBA roster, something has a good chance to change soon.
He’s seen a notable jump in production this season while suiting up for the 905 Raptors, averaging 18.4 points per game, a whole ten points above what he averaged with the Westchester Knicks a season ago.
For Atlanta, the move comes right as the window to sign players to a 10-day contract opens, and fills the empty roster spot they’ve had since waiving Tyrone Wallace in mid December.
What this means
The signing comes at a good time for Atlanta, who are currently bombarded with injures. Cam Reddish, John Collins, and Jabari Parker all missed their last game, and Allen Crabbe was questionable going in.
Guards Trae Young and Kevin Huerter played 37 and 41 minutes, respectively in that win, and it’s no coincidence that Watson is listed as a shooting guard.
We haven’t heard much on the health of John Collins since he went out with a back injury on Friday, and it’s not like simply signing a player means him or the other two injured Hawks are going to be long term.
It simply means one or more could miss some time, which is what makes the 10-day aspect of the signing helpful.
Looking at it in another light, it could be another example of the Atlanta front office simply throwing young talent at the wall and seeing if anything sticks.
We’ve seen this in the past couple years with guys like B.J Johnson, Isaac Humphries, Deyonta Davis, Daniel Hamilton, Antonius Cleveland, Jaylen Morris, Andrew White and Damion Lee all getting small to medium sized chances late in the last two seasons.
If Watson does end up suiting up, he’ll be getting his first real NBA tryout, and at 8-28, it’s not like the Hawks have anything to lose by giving him minutes.
The Hawks next play Monday against the Nuggets, and we’ll have to wait until then to see if Watson gets any run as a pro.