Reply With Quote
Scouting Castle, scouting Cling Kong, scouting the other terrific players they had in Newton and Spencer, scouting a high end college program humming at the top of its game implementing super-sophisticated sets on offense and defense.
Why the would anyone pay someone to be full time at UConn for a small chance of getting that player? That's silly. Probably looking at their center TBH.
Scouting Castle, scouting Cling Kong, scouting the other terrific players they had in Newton and Spencer, scouting a high end college program humming at the top of its game implementing super-sophisticated sets on offense and defense.
The problem I have with the comps is that Nash was a first rate point guard out of Santa Clara or whatever tiny Cal school he went to college. Fantastic handles, excellent counters, could get anywhere. While Sheppard's handles are rudimentary and he's very limited with what he can do on ball. Absolutely can improve, but I think it's more unlikely than not that he gets to running screening actions and threatens with the ball in his hands nearly to that level. He wasn't the offensive initiator in college, Dillingham was. He's a good connector and secondary passer, but he never much was able to get things done against college defenders.
Here's the Matt Ishiba Bail-Out Plan:
1. PHX sends Booker to HOU for the deal you suggest (their picks, even if it's only 2 of the 3 - so lets say its PHX25 and PHX27, HOU keeps PHX29), Sheppard, Whitmore, Jabari.
2. PHX sends KD to MIN for Randle + Jaden McDaniels and DET25 (Protected 1-13, then 1-11, then 1-9). This is the only pick MIN has to trade lol. This would be complicated because of the 2nd Apron ramifications of both teams. Probably needs to be the last deal done.
3. PHX sends Beal and the least favorable of UTA/CLE/MIN27 to DAL for Kyrie. Nico Harrison does this because he's stupid and needs to "give it a go" with a "second star" around AD.
PHX gets completely bailed out and can rebuild with Randle and Kyrie coming off their books in the Summer of 26.
PHX fans should be spamming this in their 2k sims
God would I love to get in on that deal and snag Jaden. Who the would score on a starting lineup with Fox, Castle, McDaniels, and Wemby?Here's the Matt Ishiba Bail-Out Plan:
1. PHX sends Booker to HOU for the deal you suggest (their picks, even if it's only 2 of the 3 - so lets say its PHX25 and PHX27, HOU keeps PHX29), Sheppard, Whitmore, Jabari.
2. PHX sends KD to MIN for Randle + Jaden McDaniels and DET25 (Protected 1-13, then 1-11, then 1-9). This is the only pick MIN has to trade lol. This would be complicated because of the 2nd Apron ramifications of both teams. Probably needs to be the last deal done.
3. PHX sends Beal and the least favorable of UTA/CLE/MIN27 to DAL for Kyrie. Nico Harrison does this because he's stupid and needs to "give it a go" with a "second star" around AD.
PHX gets completely bailed out and can rebuild with Randle and Kyrie coming off their books in the Summer of 26.
PHX fans should be spamming this in their 2k sims
maybe scouting Hurley too
Honestly enjoying this post-mortem on Sheppard. I remember not being too impressed with him and only having him in my Top 5 because I was basically convinced by everyone else's conviction. My Top 3 were Castle, Buzelis and Holland... woeful shooters but it's at least looking like there is hope for Castle and Buzz. Holland might be a lost cause from 3PT land.
Not going to make the same mistake this year... no one is going to talk me into some bull like having Danny Wolf as a lotto pick
Might not be too far fetched! I have no clue how MIN is going to go gunning for KD, but they're going to have to suffer a little to make it happen, there aren't a whole lot of was to make the salaries work unless Matt Lloyd is going to go Full-Nico and trade Ant for KD
i was in on Castle from the moment the Spurs were designated the 4th pick in the draft so I was beyond elated when the rockets took the second coming of Steve Alford.Honestly enjoying this post-mortem on Sheppard. I remember not being too impressed with him and only having him in my Top 5 because I was basically convinced by everyone else's conviction. My Top 3 were Castle, Buzelis and Holland... woeful shooters but it's at least looking like there is hope for Castle and Buzz. Holland might be a lost cause from 3PT land.
Not going to make the same mistake this year... no one is going to talk me into some bull like having Danny Wolf as a lotto pick
its funny... i liked sheppard a lot because i thought he had enough juice to be a point guard. i liked castle (albeit less than sheppard) but specifically as a G/F and not a pure point. i had wing castle in my 2nd tier during the draft, and point guard castle as 3rd tier. heck, i'd love loved a sheppard/castle pairing in the backcourtHonestly enjoying this post-mortem on Sheppard. I remember not being too impressed with him and only having him in my Top 5 because I was basically convinced by everyone else's conviction. My Top 3 were Castle, Buzelis and Holland... woeful shooters but it's at least looking like there is hope for Castle and Buzz. Holland might be a lost cause from 3PT land.
Not going to make the same mistake this year... no one is going to talk me into some bull like having Danny Wolf as a lotto pick
with us landing Fox, the need for a pure point guard is gone, and we have been playing castle more as a combo guard/wing than we have as a point guard, so its worked out well
Last edited by spurraider21; 03-06-2025 at 02:56 PM.
I remember having PG Castle and SG Castle rated differently... but I honestly can't remember which one I had higher... it might have been PG Castle. After 50+ games of watching him, I'm glad we're getting SG/Secondary Ball Handler Castle, I think he's much better in that role
How much do you think scouts actually make? It isn’t a lot, and is certainly worth paying to not miss on atop 4 pick. You see things in practice that won’t even see in person at a game. Spurs knew who Castle was when no one else did.
yeah i had sheppard tier 1, wing castle tier 2, point guard castle tier 3
castle's PG skills have impressed me, though, he made a great impression in summer league. but now that we have Fox its become somewhat moot. if anything it kinds works better since fox is a score-first guard and should blend quite well with a combo guard who can also facilitate
My top tier was Risacher, Sarr, and Buzelis. I had Castle and Reed in my 2nd tier. At the time, I was hoping one would fall and we could get Castle + Reed. I thought that would be a good combination that would cover for each players shortcomings. Castle has become a better shooter than I had envisioned.Honestly enjoying this post-mortem on Sheppard. I remember not being too impressed with him and only having him in my Top 5 because I was basically convinced by everyone else's conviction. My Top 3 were Castle, Buzelis and Holland... woeful shooters but it's at least looking like there is hope for Castle and Buzz. Holland might be a lost cause from 3PT land.
Not going to make the same mistake this year... no one is going to talk me into some bull like having Danny Wolf as a lotto pick
My best case draft was Castle (4) + trading up to take Risacher (5) if the #1 pick hype was a smokescreen, with Castle (4) + Holland (8) and Castle (4) + Buzelis (8) my next choices. But Castle + Fox kills the out of any of those scenarios.
Nash was picked 15 in the draft. Reed was picked 3rd. I'm pretty sure Sheppard had better measurables than Nash. And Nash took some work to transition into an MVP. We'll see with Sheppard. But the idea that he can't improve as a ball handler I think is a little shortsighted. My point is that people label a player in his first year and discount his talent based on this or that. And yet some players find success and some don't. There are few sure fires in the NBA draft. Lots of players bust. But the fact that Reed plays behind several quality NBA starters and has spent some time in the G-League during his first year is a really poor reason to say he can't be a high level player in the NBA. Scouts certainly think he can. The Rockets, who have done a pretty good job of drafting, think he can. Time will tell, but I think his current situation is based more on situation than on talent.
No doubt... Fox wasn't even on my radar back then. Now I'm think about who can play alongside with those two in a starting lineup or off the bench.
So then we had scouts watching several players. That we had one watching Castle just means he was an option.
This scout was embedded all year at UConn, just to watch Castle.
I'm curious what exactly that entails. Do scouts watch practices or are those closed off? The scout(s) must be granted some kind of access by coach Hurley I would assume? Are the players aware of who the scouts are and which team they are there for? Just seems odd to dedicate a scout for 1 college player unless they are getting actual behind the scenes access which I wasn't aware of college coaches granting.
It sounds like UConn and Hurley had a very close relationship with the Spurs scout and were very accommodating.
As mentioned above, I believe they were also scouting everything else, but a focus on Castle.
Sheppard has a broken thumb and out at least four weeks but may be for the season as they're ramping up for the playoffs.
I have to say overall I'm pretty surprised and disappointed in him this season. I didn't think he'd be this poor overall.
Yea, disappointing to be sure. Beginning of the year I figured Aaron Holiday would get spot minutes at most because Reed would have backup point all to himself at the very least and yet they have essentially split those minutes (and Amen has taken some too). I would expect Reed to be playing summer league in Vegas again this year, doubt he expected that to be the case.
Crazy to think about that first game of Reeds at last years summer league where he looked incredible and the narrative quickly formed that he was going to be an instant star and he was too good for summer league. I remember thinking "damn, of course the Rockets stole him from us" lol.
Yeah Phoenix can kiss my ing ass. Reed scored 15 points in 9 minutes
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Posting Permissions