Castle ROTY watch

[spurraider21]

1. Jaren Jackson Jr.
2. Jabari Smith Jr.

They can both defend the rim, and shoot the ball, and both will be FAs when we have money in 2026, Smith being restricted, but on a team with many mouths to feed.

unless Nico Harrison gets a job with memphis... it aint happening. he's their best and most impactful player, well on his way to making All-NBA in addition to all-defense this season

the discount version of this would have been john collins before he starting going off. probably could have been had for keldon and some SRPs.... no longer

[spurraider21]

Can't say JJJ is untouchable considering what just happened, but he's definitely the most important player in Memphis and will be offered max extension. I don't see any indications that he'd refuse it.
Idk about Smith, he just might be available, but we need someone next season, not in 2025.

Naz and Aldama are FA and they could be moved to the bench later on if a better player comes along.
PJ Washington is also FA in 2026 and will probably want out of Dallas dumpster fire this summer.
John Collins would be the emergency solution if other options fail.

And we're off-topic, btw.

i think we're going to be priced out of Naz/Aldama. we're basically working with the MLE unless we salary dump some big pieces like vassell/keldon/barnes

[DAF86]

They are going to cost Castle the easiest RoY in league history because they are a bunch of gots that don't have the balls to sit anyone but the rookie.

[Mr. Body]

They are going to cost Castle the easiest RoY in league history because they are a bunch of gots that don't have the balls to sit anyone but the rookie.

Christ dude just because psycho incels use that kind of slur doesn't mean you should. Don't be a ing gape.

[Mikesatx]

I think Aldama is the guy. Would be a great fit on this team. Smart player like Mamu but with better size and athleticism. Have no idea what the cost would be though.

[DAF86]

Christ dude just because psycho incels use that kind of slur doesn't mean you should. Don't be a ing gape.

Little known fact: non got gay people have no problem with the use of the word " got".

[exstatic]

Tbh, we have that wing in Barnes.
I'd say I prefer Barnes unless it's a very bad matchup where we get killed physically and can't make it up on the other end.

For example Warriors small ball wasn't about amazing defense in itself, but about running the opposing bigs who could exploit them off the floor.
That should be our end goal, imo. No point in playing any other way now that we have Fox.

I said it many times, I'd be fine with just one high end addition this summer, a starting PF.
Naz Reid, Aldama, PJ Washington and John Collins would be my realistic targets.

JJJ is on a decreasing deal, and his potential extension based on that would be an underpay. He’ll go into UFA.

[baseline bum]

i think we're going to be priced out of Naz/Aldama. we're basically working with the MLE unless we salary dump some big pieces of like vassell/keldon

fify

[ismael-robert]

Little known fact: non got gay people have no problem with the use of the word " got".

I found it funny he made that statement after committing blasphemy

[RC_Drunkford]

Can't say JJJ is untouchable considering what just happened, but he's definitely the most important player in Memphis and will be offered max extension. I don't see any indications that he'd refuse it.
Idk about Smith, he just might be available, but we need someone next season, not in 2025.

Naz and Aldama are FA and they could be moved to the bench later on if a better player comes along.
PJ Washington is also FA in 2026 and will probably want out of Dallas dumpster fire this summer.
John Collins would be the emergency solution if other options fail.

And we're off-topic, btw.

nope, JJJ is on a declining contract so he has to hit free agency. At that point anybody can offer him the max and he might want to go to a better team. We would have to move some salary, but we can definitely try to get him and I think he‘d be worth going after.

[John B]

Unless we get a KAT-like C who can shoot lights out, we'd be sabotaging ourselves with 2 bigs lineup.
Everyone is going to defend Wemby with long forwards as on-ball defenders. Having another big next to him would just make those matchups natural and easier for opposing bigs to not get exploited.

Get a 6'9-6'11 forward who can shoots lights out and put it on the floor against a close-out and we make it near-impossible for the opponents to defend everything.
Now that we have Fox and Castle who will never be elite shooters, we can't afford to have subpar shooters in forward positions.

Danny Wolf?? Guard-like in a 7” body who can shoot and pass, high bball IQ. A little older so he should contribute from day-1. Is his talent going to translate in NBA?

[Uriel]

I know it's way too early, but as it stands, does it look like Castle will be the best player from this draft?

[sfernald]

I know it's way too early, but as it stands, does it look like Castle will be the best player from this draft?

it’s really hard to say yet. I don’t think anyone could give you anything more than a maybe at this point.

[Obstructed_View]

I know it's way too early, but as it stands, does it look like Castle will be the best player from this draft?

My pre-draft pick for best player from this draft was McCain. I was pretty sure Castle had a shot to be the best player from this draft by opening day. Maybe someone develops into a monster later on but Castle looks legit in every way. He's better than any other Spur at this point who wasn't picked first.

[objective]

nope, JJJ is on a declining contract so he has to hit free agency. At that point anybody can offer him the max and he might want to go to a better team. We would have to move some salary, but we can definitely try to get him and I think he‘d be worth going after.

My understanding of the situation is:

While his declining contract can make an extension unlikely because it limits the amount they can offer, there's an alternate route:

If he makes all-nba he is eligible for up to the Supermax. They don't have to give him the full supermax, but it's a loophole they could exploit to keep him from free agency

[John B]

I know it's way too early, but as it stands, does it look like Castle will be the best player from this draft?

I didn’t even know he had the athleticism to enter the AS dunk contest. But now that he did, he’s done windmills at games and most of his dunks are emphatic with much gusto. This kid has it and he’s going to be great. And playing alongside another great player (especially at the same age??) will only push each better. I think he’s going to be number 1 in re-draft when all is said and done.

[Raven]

I know it's way too early, but as it stands, does it look like Castle will be the best player from this draft?

yes

[RC_Drunkford]

I know it's way too early, but as it stands, does it look like Castle will be the best player from this draft?

I mean that was pretty clear pre-draft. He was the most complete player by far. The only questionmark was his jump shot.

[Pauleta14]

I know it's way too early, but as it stands, does it look like Castle will be the best player from this draft?

Not sure yet. It depends on the evolution of his shooting.

Castle is the most "sure thing" from this draft but there are a lot of potentials that need time and development, some will for sure end up AllStar imo in the lot between Risacher Sarr Missi Wells Edey or maybe even Buzelis who started showing some promises too recently

[scott]

JJJ is on a decreasing deal, and his potential extension based on that would be an underpay. He’ll go into UFA.

I believe with the moves MEM made yesterday, it gives them capspace to renegotiate and extend JJJ without him needing to make All NBA (which he may very well do anyway).

We should hope that JJJ doesn't make All NBA, because then to reneg-and-extend JJJ *I think* (could be wrong) they'll have to renounce Aldama's cap hold.

If JJJ does make All NBA, MEM will be granted a lifeline because they they can resign Aldama and give JJJ a max extension (they don't HAVE to pay him the SuperMax)

[scott]

nope, JJJ is on a declining contract so he has to hit free agency. At that point anybody can offer him the max and he might want to go to a better team. We would have to move some salary, but we can definitely try to get him and I think he‘d be worth going after.

See response to exstatic above. MEM has more outs on this than it appears on the surface.

[CGD]

Fox who?

[Manu-of-steel]

Great game by our rook! He's not even the first off the bench. The coaching staff is doin a great disservice to this talented rookie.

[CGD]

Great game by our rook! He's not even the first off the bench. The coaching staff is doin a great disservice to this talented rookie.

CP3 needs muhtouches

[Ice009]

HIS OWN ING TEAM IS TRYING TO TAKE IT AWAY FROM HIM.

If they're going to bench him, not being the first player off the bench is ridiculous.

This kid has already got a Kawhi green light as far as I'm concerned. One of the only guys on the team that shows real toughness out there and he's also one of the youngest. The rest should be freaking ashamed of themselves. Sure, he made a couple of mental errors, but he's playing physical and is actually showing great mental toughness by not giving up and helping claw the Spurs back into games. Spurs get blown out without him tonight. As someone mentioned in the game thread, Spurs probably have more blowout losses without Steph bringing them back into games.