San Antonio Spurs Could Have a Nightmare Scenario on Their Hands.
The San Antonio Spurs have made their plan for the future very clear: continue to develop Victor Wembanyama and Devin Vassell, and use Chris Paul to show Stephon Castle the ropes before he takes over as the point guard of the future for the burgeoning Spurs’ dynasty. There is no reason to not be optimistic. Wembnayama is already one of the better players in the league and the improbable expectations put on his shoulders look more and more realistic, and Castle, a defensive stopper, showed a lot of promise as a lead guard in the Summer League. While Castle will likely
come off the bench in his rookie season as the Spurs favor the more experienced Paul, it’s safe to say that the starting lineup of the future in San Antonio will be Wembanyama, Vassell, Castle, Jeremy Sochan, and a player selected in the 2025 draft or a free agent to be acquired in the future. It’s a good time to be a Spurs fan, but there is a nightmare scenario that must be addressed. What if Castle’s shot never comes? In one season with the UConn Huskies, he shot a meager 26.7 percent from three. Granted, his jump shot looks pure, and his solid 75.5 percent clip from the free throw line suggests his shot will come, but what if it doesn’t? After all, Tre Jones shot 36.1 percent in his final season
at Duke, and Markelle Fultz shot 43.1 percent at Washington, but neither of them has become a reliable shooter in the NBA. So what happens if Castle’s shot never comes? Well, he is still a high-level defender who can play both on and off the ball, but depending on who that unnamed fifth starter is, the Spurs might only have one above-average shooter in their starting five, Devin Vassell. Jeremy Sochan and Wembanyama are both net positives on the court
even without consistent volume shooting, but they need to be surrounded by shooters to thrive. Castle is expected to be at least average from behind the arc, but if he can’t improve, then the Spurs will have to look for a replacement in the backcourt, despite the other positives in Castle’s game. Related: San Antonio Spurs Season Preview: What’s Going On In the Backcourt? Luckily for the Silver and Black, Castle will have plenty of time to address his weaknesses and hone his strengths, and he will have a season to learn from one of the best to ever do it.
