WATSON SEEKS EXPANDED ROLE WITH RAPTORS
Unless you were locked into the Raptors 905 last season, the name Paul Watson Jr. likely doesn't conjure up any big memories for you.
Watson, like Pascal Siakam, like Kyle Lowry, like DeMar DeRozan, is what is commonly known in basketball parlance as a gym rat.
This past summer, he spent a good chunk of the shortened off-season training with Siakam. The two share the same agent, while developmental guru and Sacramento Kings assistant coach Rico Hines has been working with both of them since their college days.
Watson turns 26 on Dec. 30, so time might not be on his side. But timing certainly is.
The guard is coming off his best season of G League play, most of it with the Raptors 905, where he shot 42 per cent from distance, erasing one of the few potential weaknesses in his game.
On a two-way contract with the Raptors, Watson was with the team in the bubble near Orlando and had one of those career-altering moments in a game right at the end of the regular season.
With positioning all locked up, Raptors head coach Nick Nurse rested his regulars for the most part, which meant guys like Watson had a huge opportunity staring them in the face in terms of minutes available to them.
Watson took full advantage of the situation, playing 27 minutes, putting up 22 points and six rebounds in a 117-109 win over the Denver Nuggets.
“He did pop in the bubble a little bit,” Nurse said. “He's got a long, athletic, defensive kind of makeup, his shooting has really improved. He really improved it last year with 905. He looked great in some of our mini-camp stuff we did before getting here this summer. Went out to see him two times when he was working out with Pascal. Worked really hard. You could see a noticeable uptick in improvement, just in — again — mindset, the way he's moving out there, the confidence that he has attacking, and all those kind of things. So yeah, looks good.”
Coming into a year when there are actual openings on the roster is particularly good timing.
Siakam has high hopes for Watson.
“I think he has a good chance this year to crack the rotation and be a part of the team,” Siakam said. “So, I like what he's doing. He works really hard and all off-season I've seen him put the work in and be there every single day. So I tell him (it will) be OK and do what he's supposed to do. I just want him to have that confidence. Just go out there and play and have fun.”
Hines has been working with Siakam since he came out of New Mexico State. Watson has been with him since his final year at Fresno State. Neither player can say enough about the man who puts in long hours getting them ready each off-season.
“He just really understands my needs,” Watson said of Hines. “He understands the game and he knows what will put you on the floor and how to set you up to be successful.”
The key for Watson has been locking into some consistency in his shooting. He showed that consistency this past season with the 905s and in the opportunities he got in the bubble.
Nurse is just looking for a solid all-around performance from Watson this year if he makes the rotation; a guy who can use his length and athleticism to make things tough on opponents. And when the opportunity presents itself — knock down some shots.
Nurse said coming into Wednesday's practice he felt Watson had been pressing too hard to make an impression and basically trying to do too much in the first few days of camp.
The good news is that he calmed down Wednesday and had a much better showing, which bodes well for Watson and his chance to take that next step to full-time NBA employment.
“He had a little bit of a breakout day ... so that's good to see,” Nurse said.