DCZards wrote:Dat2U wrote:Castle seems like the perfect teammate... until you ask him to take a jumpshot. That unwillingness to shoot manifests itself in opposing defenses basically ignoring him on the college level. That will only be amplified at the NBA level where he's no longer one of the more athletic players on the floor.
I'm sure Castle won't shrivel at NBA competition and lose himself like Johnny Davis did but are the two that dramatically different that we want to repeat the non-shooting SG that can defend his ass off and do a lil bit of everything yet be the master of nothing?
While I share your concern about Castle’s shooting, I don’t think he lacks any confidence nor did I see any unwillingness to shoot. Kid had 21 pts in the Final Four semifinal and 15 in the championship game.
Castle has the potential to be a much better playmaker than Davis plus with his size, length and athleticism he'll score at the rim...something Davis struggles doing. I don't think we saw a lot of Castle's offensive capabilities because he was on a talented, veteran UConn team where he was the fourth or fifth option.
He's not my first or second choice for the Zards but he's in the top 5.
Agreed on Castle. Except he IS the guy I want most in this draft.
I don't see him as unwilling to shoot so much as understanding his role. Playing it exactly as required of him. To the extent where he won a championship. On UConn he was not only the 2nd most impactful defender, but a primary screener, the best on the team at getting a post entry pass to the big, had great timing and reads on back-door cuts etc. He showed a veteran NBA-translatable game as the most important glue guy in the NCAA championship run. On any team. The high volume gunnery would be left to prior champions Newton & Karaban and the offensive hitman brought in for off-ball movement/offense in Cam Spencer.
But if you look at his High School games you see Castle as a first option scorer who had some blistering head-to-head games with Isaiah Collier. His reliable shot at that level was a pull-up middy, aside from anything attacking the basket. But his shot does not need to be totally rebuilt. He's shooting above 75% from the line, which indicates he can add a jumper with decent extended range. He has a winning mindset, and will follow the role that he is asked to do. I expect that includes raising his offensive game.
I don't see Johnny Davis. The only similarity is that Davis played high effort defense in college. But on offense he was a gunner in college, he took every shot for that team. Mostly bad shots since he was doubled. Some went in, but they were bad shots. Inefficient. In the NBA he realized his game did not translate at all. Too short, not quick enough, his high volume low-percentage, no passing, average handle, none of that was helpful to a team. But he had nothing else. Screening? Passing? Athleticism to raise his game? Those were not strengths. The only thing that got him to the NBA was his willingness to work hard. Not enough.
By contrast Castle starts his NBA career with all of the habits required at the next level with the exception of that me-first attack mode. Though that was his game in high school. On top of that he's got good length, good athleticism, a useful handle, an aptitude for passing, in highschool he was a set-up man. AND he is noted for having that work ethic. To me with this front office that is key. We are expecting our draftees to build skills that will maximize their NBA effect. Castle to me has the strongest base of useful skills combined with upside of any of the players mocked at the top of the draft.
Sarr: big man who doesn't play big. Upside, but no instant role. Has all the talent to play big, but not the aggression needed to intimidate on the interior or snatch rebounds. Can't teach competitiveness. His best hope comes from adding strength so he learns not to be timid on the inside.
Sheppard: already maxed out on "fundamentally skilled"; athletic upside limited. Only area of probable development is PG team leadership. He won't get quicker feet. Already plays as well as you can expect in every category of basic basketball aptitude.
Topic: prodigy ballhandler who does nothing off ball, on either side of the ball. Jumpshot needs complete overhaul.
Risacher: good size for a wing scorer. developing nicely. good effort/instincts on team defense. Needs muscle. Is his inconsistency a product of youth/growing pains/injury or lack of fire?
Dillingham: genius scorer, who will always be too small. You trade one side of the ball for the other.
Castle: former 1st option scorer, converted to role-player on a veteran team in order to win a chip. Did. Can he regain his attack mode instincts? Signs point to yes.
Honestly for me Castle has become my #1 overall as the player who is most likely to fulfill his talents. We don't need him as our centerpiece star. We are hoping to land that guy in the next draft. But to me he has the profile of a guy who will win MIP at some point in his career, and fight his way into all-star conversations. We draft our Pippen first, then find our Jordan next draft.
Do I want him at #1? I want to slip a notch or two out of the top spot where he will be on the board, so it is no question that he's the best guy. Better still I'd love to earn a top pick then for multiple teams to fall in love with Topic or Sarr and offer us assets to move up. We slide, pick up something extra, then still take Castle. Once he is on the Winger/Dawkins improvement plan regimen, I expect he will check off every damn box they put in front of him.
