Almost everyone predicts that Dylan Harper will be selected by the San Antonio Spurs with the second overall pick in the NBA Draft next week. There are also many who believe that De’Aaron Fox may be traded following the draft. However, Harper’s presence might increase the likelihood that they move Stephon Castle in order to better maximize their output moving ahead.
On the surface, this would seem like a bit of a weird notion, especially considering that Castle recently won Rookie of the Year, but listen. The Spurs’ backcourt is probably going to be a little crowded when they start training camp in September
Even though not everyone will stay for the long haul, San Antonio shouldn’t want to split up Harper and Fox, who are probably going to be their most effective playmaking tandem.
Guards and perimeter creators who possess the ability to serve as a team’s main offensive engine are becoming more and more important in today’s NBA. Though he doesn’t necessarily seem like the same type of high-level initiator as the other two, Castle has undoubtedly shown some promise for the future.
It would be brave to trade Stephon Castle, but it might just work.
Guys who can tear down defenses and make sophisticated reads are going to be the Spurs’ best option when considering what kind of squad will function best around Victor Wembanyama in the long run. It goes without saying that Fox is already at the top of that field, and I think Harper can catch up to him.
The Spurs may try to acquire a top-tier two-way wing who would complement elite playmakers since he won’t need the ball in his hands as much to succeed by trading Castle in a package with some of San Antonio’s other assets. Ultimately, this is the formula for transforming the Spurs from a play-in-the-border team into a legitimate playoff contender.
It is best to choose a path and then follow it when you have a small group of players who might become a little redundant. The Spurs would be dealing away Stephon Castle in order to do that.
The importance of having a number of talented ball-handlers on your team is being demonstrated to us by the 2025 NBA Finals. San Antonio now has a chance to emulate that formula by selling high on their Rookie of the Year. Although it wouldn’t be a popular decision, I believe there are situations in which it turns out to be the best one.
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