2024 NBA Mock Draft 2.0: Hawks play it safe, Wizards go big, Spurs fill two needs
By Cal Durrett
4) San Antonio Spurs-Stephon Castle
The San Antonio Spurs have a lot riding on this draft. If they nail the fourth pick, they might just have the best young core in the NBA, and if they get a player at eight, then they could fill their two biggest positional needs at point guard and small forward. At four, the general consensus seems to be that they will take a point guard and while it is questionable whether Stephon Castle will be in the NBA, he seems like a safe bet to be selected here.
Castle was initially a point guard prior to playing for Connecticut but spent more time playing off-ball, leading most to expect him at 6'6 to be more of a wing in the league. Some of that is due to his being a shaky 3-point shooter and his ability to harass guards and wings on defense. However, Castle has made it clear that he wants to play point guard and what he'll actually be at the next level might not matter as much to the Spurs.
Defensively, he should be able to guard ones, two's, and threes, and no matter who they draft, they will be sharing the ball with Devin Vassell in the backcourt, who has increasingly played more with the ball. Then, of course, there is Victor Wembanyama, who will probably spend more time in the post next season as he gets stronger and his teammates get more comfortable getting him the ball.
He is also a promising passer. If Castle learns to shoot, he can play off of Wembanyama and Vassell or set them up for easy shots. As a result, taking Castle, no matter what position he plays, might make sense given his versatility.