Bawse Dawg
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@Ferguson_Mellochill you think he isn't a top 10 pick?
2024 NBA Draft Mega Thread
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Williams is craftier. Buzelis has better IQ. I'm just saying that Buzelis kind of looks like a dork. That's all.
In this draft, I think there are 7 or 8 consensus top-10 players, and from there is flattens out quite a bit. I think Castle's range, realistically, could be anywhere from around 8 or 9 down to about 15 or 16. I think other guys in his range are Collier, Walter, Knecht, Filipowski, etc., and team needs will play a factor in who goes where.
I'm not as excited about Castle in the top 10 as some others because I have concerns about this shooting (volume/consistency) and his athleticism, which gives him a decent advantage at the college level, but will look pretty average in the NBA. He's probably going to be a defensive-minded 2/3 who plays off the ball and secondary playmakes. How he develops offensively will determine his upside and how many minutes he plays, but again, he's starting with fairly middling physical tools for an NBA 2 or 3 and below average shooting numbers for a 2-guard.
My philosophy on the draft in general is that it's an opportunity to acquire star-level talent on a team-friendly contract. I would prefer that the Jazz really swing for upside, even if they miss. They have enough picks in their cupboard that they can afford to whiff on two out of every three picks. However, at this stage of the rebuild, they can't really afford not to take big swings. I'm not seeing as much upside with Castle if he can't be a lead initiator. He can bully smaller guards, but he's not going to beat wing defenders consistently. If his shooting doesn't develop enough, he might not even be a starter longterm.
The best case scenario with Castle is that he wills himself into a tough, 2-way wing like a slightly smaller version of Jimmy Butler. However, I just think the chance of that happening is relatively low.
Castle was 81st percentile in PNR as a scorer and 85th percentile as a passer. He got no isolation reps because UConn as a team nearly never plays isolation basketball (accounts for 2% of their offense).
Castle was also in the 92nd percentile guarding the PNR ball-handler.
I think you are understating his potential for being a lead guard. To me one of his strengths is his handle
Castle was also in the 87th percentile for transition, which would suggest he's athletic. Not to mention 85th percentile in isolation defense.
And yes, all these numbers are better than Cody Williams.
SoberasHotRod
Well-Known Member
There you go, making good use of that Synergy subscription.
SoberasHotRod
Well-Known Member
Disappointing for a guy I really want to like. I do think he has potential to be more, but for now he is basically a catch and shoot guy. When I've seen him try to drive he looks ok, but you can tell he isn't super comfortable yet.
Cody Williams has a clear NBA archetype as a big 2-guard -- with the right size, length and skillset to become an impact player. With Castle, I think he's most likely going to be another rotational 2/3, even if he can take a few possessions playing on the ball.
FWIW, the Jazz also don't seem to be that interested in playing pick-and-role. They're just spreading the floor and letting their guards attack space, hoping to create an advantage. Being able to shoot off the dribble from deep is an important part of that.
So then they definitely arent interested in Cody?
Remember, going by stats, no one drafted GG Jackson in the 1st round last year. In the end, he may well be a top 6 or 7 player in his class. Things like athletic tools, competitive drive and being able to show flashes of NBA-level skills are important.
Not as a lead ball handler, no. As a big 2-guard who can self-create and score in different situations and from different angles, then yes.
So all stuff Castle does better with better defense...
Depends on how you use stats.
GG might not have been efficient, but he tried a lot of things. Cody simply does not attempt to shoot off the dribble. Thats an example of stats looking bad for GG, but actually telling a story of a more complete offensive player who was trying things vs Cody who was simply playing to his strengths only. You dont want your stars being scared to shoot off the dribble.
Also athletic tools can be parsed with data. 2p% in transition, rim finishing, total dunks, defensive metrics. There are plenty of examples of guys who looked very athletic but didnt have functional athleticism. Castle definitely looks athletic to me and he was dealing with a knee injury during the season.
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I'd be quite happy with Castle at 9. I think he'd pair nicely with Keyonte.
His game is really advanced for 19 years old and has a throwback streak - can't speed him up, great change of pace, can create his own shot, gets into the paint extremely well and can score/finish in a variety of ways. His production/utilization is also a bit understated given who he's playing alongside of in the backcourt.
He's not ultra explosive and will need to put in the work from the 3-point line but I would've said the same things about Jalen Williams coming out of Santa Clara.
His game is really advanced for 19 years old and has a throwback streak - can't speed him up, great change of pace, can create his own shot, gets into the paint extremely well and can score/finish in a variety of ways. His production/utilization is also a bit understated given who he's playing alongside of in the backcourt.
He's not ultra explosive and will need to put in the work from the 3-point line but I would've said the same things about Jalen Williams coming out of Santa Clara.
Handlogten's Heros
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I’m team Castle.
I've been looking at some mock drafts lately and I think it's kind of insane Mark Sears isnt on any of the ones I've seen.
Just from perusing Synergy he's definitely a top 3 shooter by the stats in the draft.
Maybe I wouldnt take him at 31/32, but he's probably a top 40 guy in the class.
He measured 6' w/ a 6'2 wingspan last year at the G-League Elite camp, so I get why no one is screaming his name as far as the popular mocks go, but he's been insane this season and really improved the questions people had on him as a lead guard.
Just from perusing Synergy he's definitely a top 3 shooter by the stats in the draft.
Maybe I wouldnt take him at 31/32, but he's probably a top 40 guy in the class.
He measured 6' w/ a 6'2 wingspan last year at the G-League Elite camp, so I get why no one is screaming his name as far as the popular mocks go, but he's been insane this season and really improved the questions people had on him as a lead guard.
I think you'd call him a scorer rather than a pure shooter. I like that he reads what the defense gives him and can adapt to score in different ways. I think the touch is there, and he's confident shooting out to 28 feet. His percentages around the rim are very high, despite his taking some tough runners and floaters. I'd be willing to bet on him as a reliable shooter.
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Yeah, I think you're off track here. Cody's jumper makes him a real triple-threat, and his combination of length and touch enables him to beat defenders in multiple ways.
What was it that Jonathan Givony said about Castle when he put Castle at #16 in his recent mock?
Right...I'm just asking what people think of his shooting ability. Wondering if people are buying into his 42% from 3 on low volume.
I really like his rim finishing numbers. Very high% with a decent amount unassisted combine with a high FTr. Getting to the basket off the dribble still might be the most premium skill in the league. But what also worries me is his lack of peripheral numbers. His REB/AST/BLK/STL is seriously low for a wing or any kind of prospect tbh.
Cody is probably a better shooter but it's far from a given with the FT% factor.
Codys sample size is tiny.
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