2024 Draft Prospects

[JDR720]

There are plenty of 6'6-ish poor shooting defensive wings that get taken high in the draft. Dyson Daniels. Anthony Black. Sochan. Okoro. MKG. Winslow.


And hardly any of them work out.


The only ones that do are either 1- Big enough to play PF (Scottie Barns) or in the case of the Thompson twins (assuming they work out) athletic freaks.

Castle is neither of those types.


Suggs was/is a PG, and he was at least an average shooter.
Marcus Smart was/is built like a tank. His offensive game never developed much. His career FG% is 39% and 32% from 3. If he wasn't so tanky, he'd be like Nitkilina or Dennis Smith.

[Diop]

There are plenty of 6'6-ish poor shooting defensive wings that get taken high in the draft. Dyson Daniels. Anthony Black. Sochan. Okoro. MKG. Winslow.


And hardly any of them work out.


The only ones that do are either 1- Big enough to play PF (Scottie Barns) or in the case of the Thompson twins (assuming they work out) athletic freaks.

Castle is neither of those types.


Suggs was/is a PG, and he was at least an average shooter.
Marcus Smart was/is built like a tank. His offensive game never developed much. His career FG% is 39% and 32% from 3. If he wasn't so tanky, he'd be like Nitkilina or Dennis Smith.

You keep Dyson Daniel’s name out your god damn mouth.

I believe pelicans are very happy with him

[yosemiteben]

I am surprised to see that Castle is averaging less than 1 steal and 1 block per game despite playing almost 30 mpg. What's up with that? Expected more based on his reputation.

Research project for someone - has there ever been an elite defending guard in the NBA that averaged less than 1.5 steals per 40 minutes in college?

[Snidely FC]

For me this game changed the narrative on Castle a little bit because he showed what he might look like when he is more assertive. This was the first game I felt Castle didn’t just go with the flow. Early they sagged off of him but later it seemed Alabama was punching back and Castle seemed to understand that they needed some leadership and asserted himself.

The consistent narrative on him is that he has the talent to do more but plays with a regulator on because he focuses on what the team needs.

Q. Donovan earlier said Stephon Castle is not like any other freshman, he's the most unselfish player on the team. Can you speak to that and also when you knew you were getting that?

DAN HURLEY: Yeah, so you knew right away in the recruiting process because of how quickly and decisively he made a decision based on, like, the things that really matter: the culture, the connection with the staff, all the things that we do at UConn.

You just knew when you recruited him. When you got to the first practice, whether you ripped him or encouraged him, everything was, Yes, Coach. He's such a pleaser. His value at the next level, obviously you see it on game night. A lot of NBA teams, they come through and watch us practice, where he even has the ball in his hands more, where he gets to show all the things he can do that you don't always see on game night

I do think as JMAC has previously said whether he measures 6’6 vs 6’4 at the combine will make a big difference in teams’ analysis of Castle, but leadership is a skill too, and I feel like we saw some of that from him in this Alabama game, where for a while he didn’t defer he led.

Q. Stephon, those who know you know that you very rarely get emotional on the court. After that alley-oop dunk, you were pretty animated. What was it that brought that out of you?

STEPHON CASTLE: I just sensed that we had started to spark a run. I was just trying to get my teammates just to have a little energy on the court.

I mean, it was a good dunk. It was a great pass by T-New, so I kind of got fired up for it.

It’s a simple post up but do the Hornets have anyone who can do this:

Read on Twitter

[JustBuzzin]

It's time we change the identity and culture of this team. I know most want a scorer, but you can also have major impact as a defender. Castle is probably the best on ball defender in the projected lottery. The Virginia kid is probably the best in the draft.

I view Castle as a Draymond type player for guards. He's going to do everything that helps the team win. Draymond never developed a consistent jumpshot but he still managed to be a key player for the Warriors over the years.

In a weak draft I'm looking at the best fit and Castle seems like that player for me.

[wilson115]

Castle only had one unassisted make that wasn't a post-up though. All his other buckets were just him walking into wide-open shots created by someone else. I think NBA defenders guard him just like they do Cody, stay down on everyone else and watch him pound the ball until he drives into trouble or heaves it with the clock running out.

I'd roll the dice on him in the mid/late lottery, but the only way I spend a top 3 pick on a non-shooter/creator is for a 7-footer who covers ground like a gazelle.

Read on Twitter

[JustBuzzin]

Kyshawn George remember that name. He's going to be drafted in the top 10 and someone will get a steal.

[Diop]

I am surprised to see that Castle is averaging less than 1 steal and 1 block per game despite playing almost 30 mpg. What's up with that? Expected more based on his reputation.

Research project for someone - has there ever been an elite defending guard in the NBA that averaged less than 1.5 steals per 40 minutes in college?

Bruce Bowen, San Antonios lockdown defender, college career average of 1.3 steals

[luciano-davidwesley]

Read on Twitter

Player compliments team mate who has a financial incentive to be drafted as high as possible.

[Diop]

feels like we can have these arguments about each and every prospect this year

[amcoolio]

Castle only had one unassisted make that wasn't a post-up though. All his other buckets were just him walking into wide-open shots created by someone else. I think NBA defenders guard him just like they do Cody, stay down on everyone else and watch him pound the ball until he drives into trouble or heaves it with the clock running out.

I'd roll the dice on him in the mid/late lottery, but the only way I spend a top 3 pick on a non-shooter/creator is for a 7-footer who covers ground like a gazelle.

Read on Twitter

He has such a slow and low shot. Okoro reincarnated

[GoBobs]

DJ Burns was an interesting matchup for Edey, the one thing he did really well was push Edey farther away from the basket than he normally likes to be.

Watch on YouTube

Really impressive that Edey can make that hook shot with either hand that far out.

[JustBuzzin]

I am surprised to see that Castle is averaging less than 1 steal and 1 block per game despite playing almost 30 mpg. What's up with that? Expected more based on his reputation.

Research project for someone - has there ever been an elite defending guard in the NBA that averaged less than 1.5 steals per 40 minutes in college?

Your mind is made up on Castle. No need to rub it in.


Also playing good defense is more than just getting steals. Castle is more of defender who makes players take tough shots. He's not gambling for steals a lot.

Allen Iverson was great at steals, he was still a bad defender.

[yosemiteben]

I am surprised to see that Castle is averaging less than 1 steal and 1 block per game despite playing almost 30 mpg. What's up with that? Expected more based on his reputation.

Research project for someone - has there ever been an elite defending guard in the NBA that averaged less than 1.5 steals per 40 minutes in college?

Your mind is made up on Castle. No need to rub it in.

I'm legit asking for a datapoint that would influence my view on him. My mind isn't made up, I don't really have strong draft opinions.

But I was surprised at the low steal numbers and am curious if there is a substantial history of guards with low steal numbers becoming elite defenders.

[JustBuzzin]

Research project for someone - has there ever been an elite defending guard in the NBA that averaged less than 1.5 steals per 40 minutes in college?

Your mind is made up on Castle. No need to rub it in.

I'm legit asking for a datapoint that would influence my view on him. My mind isn't made up, I don't really have strong draft opinions.

But I was surprised at the low steal numbers and am curious if there is a substantial history of guards with low steal numbers becoming elite defenders.

Yeah I'm not a big steals guy. It's basically a gambling stat. It's more about your reactions and reading passing lanes. I judge defense by the eye test. Castle is probably the best on ball defender in the lottery. He makes players take tough shots and he's not gambling for steals which explains his low steals rate.

To be fair I'm probably the only person on this board who still judges players based on the eye test. I look at the basic stats, but I'm not very deep into stats like some are. I'm old school I watch a player and judge him off what I see with my own eyes.

Castle just seems like a high IQ player. He's not a scoring threat as of right now, but you can see if he puts in the work to improve his shot he can become a real threat as an all around player. His only weakness right now is his jumpshot.

I'm not saying that isn't a major concern, but unlike other players in the past who couldn't shoot they had no other skills to rely on. Castle has a high enough basketball IQ to find ways to be effective throughout the game. His cutting is something nobody brings up. He's pretty good at finding a lane for a open dunk/layup.

I view Castle as the Draymond of guards. His shot isn't great but he's going to do everything else on the court to make an impact on the game.

[MasterIchiro]

An offense requires diversification. You can have 4-5 snipers but if nobody can pressure the rim, the defense will just run you off the 3 point line.

LaMelo and Miller can flank someone who pressures the rim and generate more open shots. He is smart so he understands how to make teammates better and how to take advantage of the defense when they cheat.

[JustBuzzin]

Exactly right which is why he fits so well with Melo/Miller. He's a great cutter we need someone who will drive and pressure the rim. Melo/Miller can handle the perimeter scoring/shooting we need someone who's going to defend and do the little things. Of course scoring would be great, but this lineup lacks an identity. Someone has to set the tone on defense.

[MasterIchiro]

Exactly right which is why he fits so well with Melo/Miller. He's a great cutter we need someone who will drive and pressure the rim. Melo/Miller can handle the perimeter scoring/shooting we need someone who's going to defend and do the little things. Of course scoring would be great, but this lineup lacks an identity. Someone has to set the tone on defense.

Not many elite defenders are prolific scorers.

And the defense could use an elite defender more than the offense can use someone on par with LaMelo and Brandon from the outside or with Miles all around. He's going to make shooters better shooters by pressuring the rim, which spaces the floor in a different way, but still stretches the defense inside/out.

It's perfect that while LaMelo and Brandon are elite spacers, they are pretty diverse shot creators (for themselves or others) in their own right.

Castle is going to defer to the elite scorers, bolster the defense, and contribute rim pressure and playmaking. He's going to make the right play on both ends and improve in all areas, including shotmaking.

[JustBuzzin]

Agreed 100%

[JustBuzzin]

Hearing Clifford in the Miller thread saying he views Miller as a sg who can play the 3.

Makes me think we are going sf/pf with the lottery pick.