2024-2025 Rookie Watch

[Mr. Body]

How does Stephon Castle stack up against other rookies - if we want him to get ROY?

Was trading the #8 pick for future draft capital a mistake? Might be fun to revisit that question a few years ahead.

[Mr. Body]

Only one game in the books for most teams, so obviously way too early.

Not much remarkable so far, a draft class that was advertised to not be spectacular didn't play much in first games. Can obviously change quickly.

Dillingham didn't play. Salaun didn't play.

Buzelis played only a few minutes.

Knecht showed some good signs.

Edey fouled out very quickly. Utah was targeting him physically.

Clingan looked pretty good in relatively small minutes.

Sheppard and Cody Williams both played a good amount. Sheppard had good moments but was mostly un-impactful, which is to be expected early on. Cody Williams had a game similar to his late season games with Colorado -- many minutes, no statistical impact. But he's both drawing important defensive duties and tasked at times with bringing the ball up.

[CorrectCrusader]

The edey foul out deserves context, those refs were abominable. 60 fouls the entire game.

[LeBowen]

Apparently #45 pick Jamal Shead had a decent game for the Raptors.

Edey in his current state won't be able to keep up with the pace. He's just too slow.

For me Castle is easily the best player in this rookie class right now (I'm not saying some others can't develop to be better than him), but he won't win ROTY because he won't play enough.
Unless he really exceeds every expectations and leaves Pop no choice.

If Knecht actually is Redick 2.0, media will push the narrative for him to win it.

[Mr. Body]

The edey foul out deserves context, those refs were abominable. 60 fouls the entire game.

Yeah, and John Collins was specifically wrapping him up and instigating. Edey will be fine in that regard, imo.

[spurraider21]

from the bigs, Edey/Clingan both struggled. Missi looked good. Ware barely played

from the smalls, dillingham didnt play, though that game definitely had a "playoff atmosphere" to it, so not surprising

sheppard looked fine out there, but barely got shots up. looked fine defensively, even blocked a layup.

from the wings... risacher looked shaky out there. seemed nervous even though he basically stepped on the court and immediately hit a 3. salaun didnt play. i didnt see the bulls game but Buzelis seemed like he did nothing. cody williams got 20 minutes of cardio. didnt watch the pistons game but holland got a couple of steals. inefficient offensively. i doubt he had much ballhandling duty.

sarr and castle have their debuts tdoay. wouldnt take much to have the best debut from the rookies. right now its just Missi who stood out

[spurraider21]

i just dont think Castle will get the volume/role needed to compete for ROTY. would take a very weak year, like the time Brogdon won, for him to be up there, imo

[Gibbz]

Yves Missi had a nice game for NOP with Zion out.

[Gibbz]

i just dont think Castle will get the volume/role needed to compete for ROTY. would take a very weak year, like the time Brogdon won, for him to be up there, imo

As long as Edey starts and gets real minutes, the surface stats will probably be too much for any other rookie to win it.

[exstatic]

The edey foul out deserves context, those refs were abominable. 60 fouls the entire game.

He’s still going to foul a LOT. Nobody game plans in the preseason, and he’s going to have nightmares about the amount of time he spends on an island after the PnR switch.

[objective]

Though I was not high on Castle, I've detailed in past posts that I won't hold anything against Wright and the front office for not trading up into 1-3, or for passing on Edey and Clingan. Top 3 picks just weren't realistic to jump into due to unique circumstances, and Edey and Clingan probably had agents working to keep them from San Antonio in order to get their guys in better situations as eventual starters

[spurraider21]

i was fine with Castle at 4. i liked each of the top 3 guys ahead of them, but i also didnt fault them for moving up.

[Pauleta14]

Pop is going to screw everthing up again

[scott]

i just dont think Castle will get the volume/role needed to compete for ROTY. would take a very weak year, like the time Brogdon won, for him to be up there, imo

Super cool that our #4 draft pick is going to get the Lonnie Walker treatment.

[objective]

Super cool that our #4 draft pick is going to get the Lonnie Walker treatment.

Lonnie was jerked around until he cut his hair like Samson and had to expose childhood trauma to get a shot, but hopefully Castle is only screwed with for a single year or less

[spursparker9]

tbh it is very easy to see who win ROY

Whoever get to start for their team will win ROY tbh.

[Atl Spur]

Lonnie & Castle aren’t nowhere near similar nor will their role be.

[objective]

tbh it is very easy to see who win ROY

Whoever get to start for their team will win ROY tbh.

Not too many starters.

Sarr is starting but not doing much
Risacher bench
Sheppard bench
Castle bench
Holland bench
Salaun deep deep bench
Clingan bench
Dillingham deep deep bench
Edey STARTER
Williams bench
Buzelis bench
Topic hurt
Carter hurt
Carrington STARTER but not putting up a lot

That's the lottery

[Uriel]

Probably overreacting after a single game, but I think Castle might be the best draft pick in the Brian Wright era (excluding Wembanyama). Which might be a function of luck too, considering there have been reports that he would’ve taken Sarr and Sheppard over Castle if they had been available.

[timtonymanu]

No fucking shit, the highest pick outside of Wemby we’ve had looks like the best player out of our other draft picks in the Wright era. Such insight, Urinal.

[Pauleta14]

ST already in mid season form :lol

[scott]

Probably overreacting after a single game, but I think Castle might be the best draft pick in the Brian Wright era (excluding Wembanyama). Which might be a function of luck too, considering there have been reports that he would’ve taken Sarr and Sheppard over Castle if they had been available.

Maybe Brian can get a memo over to Pop that maybe we should give this guy some playing time.