The Orlando Magic have signed free agent guard C.J. Watson, General Manager Rob Hennigan announced today.
Watson (6’2”, 175, 4/17/84) played in 57 games last season with Indiana (21 starts), averaging 10.0 ppg., 3.6 apg., 2.9 rpg. and 1.00 stlpg. in 24.9 minpg., while shooting .400 (70-175) from three-point range and .826 (138-167) from the free throw line. He led (or tied) the team in scoring three times, in rebounding once and in assists 16 times. Watson scored in double figures 29 times and had 20+ points four times, including a season-high 23 points three times, the last on Mar. 26 at Milwaukee. He also pulled down a career-high nine rebounds on Dec. 27 at Brooklyn.
After playing collegiately at the University of Tennessee, Watson was not selected during the 2006 NBA Draft. He played in Italy, Greece and the NBA Development League, before being signed to the first of two consecutive 10-day contracts by Golden State on Jan. 8, 2008. Watson has appeared in 505 career NBA regular season games (93 starts) with Golden State, Chicago, Brooklyn and Indiana, averaging 7.8 ppg., 2.5 apg. and 2.0 rpg. in 20.6 minpg., while shooting .383 (425-1,110) from three-point range and .806 (750-931) from the free throw line. He has also played in 48 career NBA playoff games (five starts), averaging 5.5 ppg., 2.0 apg. and 1.8 rpg. in 16.8 minpg.