Stephon Castle?

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I wouldn't be mad about that.
I probably wouldn't mind it either? Honestly I'm no draft guru. The kid looks lean and long and hustles. All the talent in the world still needs a good head and hard work.
 
I like Castle quite a bit. More as a connective guy. I don't think he's got enough as a scorer or athlete to be star but I good player on a good team type.

My favorite part of his game is how physical and technically sound he is getting through screens. Nice passer and ball handler too. Plays with pace, knows how to use his body which makes up some for his lack of burst.
 
I like Castle quite a bit. More as a connective guy. I don't think he's got enough as a scorer or athlete to be star but I good player on a good team type.

My favorite part of his game is how physical and technically sound he is getting through screens. Nice passer and ball handler too. Plays with pace, knows how to use his body which makes up some for his lack of burst.
So, sort of like... JOSH HART?
 
I don't think he'll last until 14 though.
The way he is moving up I would not be surprised at all if he is gone by then.
Honestly with that pick the Blazers should probably pick a player that plays a position of need and go for that player.
 
The way he is moving up I would not be surprised at all if he is gone by then.
Honestly with that pick the Blazers should probably pick a player that plays a position of need and go for that player.
When you're as bad as we are, there is no position that is not a position of need.
 
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https://nbadraft.theringer.com/bigboard

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PLUSES
  • High-feel playmaker who controls tempo by playing at his own pace. He’ll change rhythm and can decelerate with ease, showcasing excellent body control and footwork on drives. With his great size and strength, he can plow through defenders, too.

  • Makes the simple play with skip passes, kick-outs, and interior feeds. With spacing he should thrive in the pick-and-roll, more like he did at the high school level, when his playmaking was more heavily emphasized than it's been in his time as a UConn freshman.

  • Good finisher through contact at the rim using either hand.

  • Catches fire as a shooter, showing flashes of his potential to be a go-to scorer when his jumper is falling. But he’s never been efficient from 3. However, there’s reason for optimism since he displays soft touch on floaters and layups, so perhaps it’s a mechanical issue—and not a lack of touch. He’s also made progress from the free throw line. Over his first 15 games at UConn, he made 68.9 percent of his free throws. Since then, he’s been making nearly 90 percent.

  • Tone-setting defender who brings size in the backcourt, giving his team the versatility to use different schemes. Effort isn’t a concern for him. He rebounds. He focuses off-ball. He even stays engaged on the bench.
MINUSES
  • Shooting has always been his biggest problem. In high school, he made below 70 percent of his free throws and routinely shot under 30 percent from 3. As a freshman at UConn, he once again made below 30 percent of his 3s.

  • He doesn’t have a calling card. He’s not a proven shooter, he’s not a savant playmaker, and he’s not an elite athlete either. So while he has a lot of good skills, he’s not great at anything. The remainder of this season will be critical in proving what he can become.

  • Missed one month to begin the season after a meniscus injury.
Don't like that last part - we have a bad history with knees...
 

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Shabazz busted quickly. For Castle’s sake, let’s hope he doesn’t go that route.
 
The "big guard that does everything well except shoot" archetype doesn't generally do well in the NBA. They tend to be connector pieces at best, and you don't draft those in the top 5 unless you have a star to build around already.

Here are some similar prospects in the last few years:

Dyson Daniels
Anthony Black
Josh Giddey
Killian Hayes
Jarrett Culver

Basically, it's hard to be a perimeter player without a shot unless you're exceptional at something else.
 
The "big guard that does everything well except shoot" archetype doesn't generally do well in the NBA. They tend to be connector pieces at best,
Jimmy Butler? Josh Hart?

I'll settle for somebody who sets the tone defensively and raises everybody else. But yes, if he could shoot better he'd probably be being touted as the #1 prospect. He seems to bring it when needed, though:

 
Can’t remember where I read the numbers, but the proliferation of wings drafted in the lottery is a serious arms race for size, length and the 2-way player. And yet the 7 footer (and even twin towers or jumbo sized) seems to be having a mini-revival.

I’ve never bought the position-less basketball idea championed by strong proponents of it. It may be Captain obvious time but … Certain skillsets remain paramount and missing them dooms a team. The Suns lack a point guard who can organize the triple scorer Durant-Beal-Booker. Too bad they don’t have contracts to trade as a Brogdon would help.

[Castle’s feet don’t look like they glide on the court or are that light-footed Uber athlete that gets up in a moment. It’s more like the a boxer or soccer player … which to me is a good thing for getting where he wants to go.]

We’re just a day away. Honor all those mothers in your life … and keep one eye on the draft lottery. Good thoughts.:cheers:
 
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