Measurements have become an outdated bit of info. Back when teams played 5 guys that fit the old standards, measurements made sense. Now, with most teams playing small-ball, measurements may mean nothing. When guys like Josh Hart and Jeremy Grant are considered your PF, I doubt Castle being and inch or two short will affect a team's desire to draft him. Predraft measurements seemingly mean more to the draft 'experts' than they do to GM's and coaches.
If we traded Brogdan, Castle could at least be considered. Dude has been described as a "culture setter," which we could definitely use. He'll fill up the boxscore and provide elite perimeter defense. Can he play SF as a "point forward " type? If Shmitz thinks so, I'm on board. Scoot could benefit from another playmaker who isn't the same size as him.
If Schmitz thinks Castle is the BPA at whatever pick we end up with, I'm okay with that. But he can't play PF.....and any team with Hart at PF isn't going to be a contender nor Grant for that matter. They might be able to play there for stretches, but one is just too small and the other doesn't rebound. We just drafted a rookie who struggles shooting, to add another one seems problematic even with the positives he brings. I hope they are in a position to select someone other than Castle for what they need.
Look at the Knicks. They have a ton of guys from about 6' to 6'6" (how tall is OG?) but they all contribute.
Blazers are attracted to players shorter than 6’6 who are mid at best on defense like a moth to a flame
Hart's physical and plays bigger than his listed size. Still wouldn't want him on Tatum, Giannis, or LeBron. Jerami Grant's lack of physicality at PF is certainly a problem, but at least he's a legitimate 6'8. We've seen how the three 6'3 guards thing backfired.
I probably wouldn't mind it either? Honestly I'm no draft guru. The kid looks lean and long and hustles. All the talent in the world still needs a good head and hard work.
I like Castle quite a bit. More as a connective guy. I don't think he's got enough as a scorer or athlete to be star but I good player on a good team type. My favorite part of his game is how physical and technically sound he is getting through screens. Nice passer and ball handler too. Plays with pace, knows how to use his body which makes up some for his lack of burst.
The way he is moving up I would not be surprised at all if he is gone by then. Honestly with that pick the Blazers should probably pick a player that plays a position of need and go for that player.
https://nbadraft.theringer.com/bigboard PLUSES High-feel playmaker who controls tempo by playing at his own pace. He’ll change rhythm and can decelerate with ease, showcasing excellent body control and footwork on drives. With his great size and strength, he can plow through defenders, too. Makes the simple play with skip passes, kick-outs, and interior feeds. With spacing he should thrive in the pick-and-roll, more like he did at the high school level, when his playmaking was more heavily emphasized than it's been in his time as a UConn freshman. Good finisher through contact at the rim using either hand. Catches fire as a shooter, showing flashes of his potential to be a go-to scorer when his jumper is falling. But he’s never been efficient from 3. However, there’s reason for optimism since he displays soft touch on floaters and layups, so perhaps it’s a mechanical issue—and not a lack of touch. He’s also made progress from the free throw line. Over his first 15 games at UConn, he made 68.9 percent of his free throws. Since then, he’s been making nearly 90 percent. Tone-setting defender who brings size in the backcourt, giving his team the versatility to use different schemes. Effort isn’t a concern for him. He rebounds. He focuses off-ball. He even stays engaged on the bench. MINUSES Shooting has always been his biggest problem. In high school, he made below 70 percent of his free throws and routinely shot under 30 percent from 3. As a freshman at UConn, he once again made below 30 percent of his 3s. He doesn’t have a calling card. He’s not a proven shooter, he’s not a savant playmaker, and he’s not an elite athlete either. So while he has a lot of good skills, he’s not great at anything. The remainder of this season will be critical in proving what he can become. Missed one month to begin the season after a meniscus injury. Don't like that last part - we have a bad history with knees...
