2024 SB Nation Mock Draft: Spurs pick Stephon Castle with the 4th pick
06/24/2024 10:00 AM
The Spurs get a defensive-minded guard who could grow into a two-way force.
The SB Nation mock draft is an annual tradition. Contributors from team sites and experts from around the network make picks for their favorite franchise in a no-trades-allowed mock. You should check out the results because there were some surprises.
Last year, the pick for the Spurs was obvious. They were selecting first and Victor Wembanyama was there. This year, it was harder to make decisions, as there were several good candidates at both fourth and eighth. In the end, Pounding the Rock picked Stephon Castle with San Antonio's highest pick.
Castle has been linked to the Spurs in the predraft process. He's a 19-year-old guard who needs to improve on offense but could offer a lot on the other end from the start. The preferred pick at that range was Reed Sheppard but he was off the board by then. Here's why we picked Castle:
Castle's rumored desire to be a point guard in the NBA could scare off a lot of teams, but probably not the one that trotted out Jeremy Sochan as initiator last season. The questionable shooting is a serious concern but Castle's defensive versatility and secondary playmaking should be useful no matter what position he ends up playing.
Is Castle actually a point guard? The answer is, probably not. At least not in the traditional sense. But the Spurs likely don't care. Gregg Popovich seems to love big ball handlers. Last season 6'8 forward Jeremy Sochan ran point before 6'5 wing Malaki Branham replaced him on the ball. The smaller Tre Jones took over only after the others struggled. Before last season Pop gave Joshua Primo the ball in the second unit and after parting ways with Primo Josh Richardson got the assignment. Both were 6'5 wings. And of course, Manu Ginobili was the main playmaker off the bench for years. For the Spurs, Castle at point guard makes sense.
Offensively, the fit is not ideal, as Castle is not a good three-point shooter and doesn't have the killer first step to get past defenders who go under screens. Fortunately for Castle, he'd be joining a team that has a perimeter creator in place already in Devin Vassell and a screener that demands the attention of the entire defense in Victor Wembanyama. He wouldn't have to be the engine of the offense if he plays point guard. He'd only have to get the offense into its sets, push the pace and find ways to punish opponents who focus too much on containing Wemby.
On the other end, Castle should help the Spurs tremendously. He's a fantastic defender already, playing with physicality on that end and able to guard all perimeter positions. His size and wingspan should also allow him to not require extra help even when guarding forwards, which would bring defensive versatility to a team that likes to switch a lot. Castle could be a Marcus Smart-type defender, and if his shot develops as Smart's did, the position he plays won't matter.
