ace3g
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Yep, year 4-5 Castle will be something to behold. Jimmy Butler made an increase in his numbers from year 1 to a whopping 8.6 ppg in year 2. Castle is fine, just an inflection point.Didn’t Deni have years of disappointment equal to or worse than the rough patch Castle is going through now?
Yes. He didn’t shoot for shit until his 4th season.Didn’t Deni have years of disappointment equal to or worse than the rough patch Castle is going through now?
If true, he may be a bit of a malcontent. I seem to recall Atlanta wanting him gone. I don't think the Spurs will go near him. Cleveland just can't quite put it together. Maybe they package Garland/Hunter for an elite wing?
Cleveland gave up a swap that is costing them 11 spots in this draft for a guy who doesn’t want to be there.
This is interesting. Deni is the best contract in the NBA, very much looks like a top 25 player entering his prime, how much of that is role and how good does he looks as a #2/#3?I don't think Deni is valued more than castle right now. Castle is coming off ROY and, right or not, his upside potential makes him a more valuable asset, even if Deni is the better player today. Deni is very good, but he's a known quantity.
Yeah, by most metrics Castle has been a better offensive player than Deni over the first 2 yrs and (probably) a better defender, but Deni's solid+ and has great switchability. But Steph with a way higher usage means comp is not apples/apples.Didn’t Deni have years of disappointment equal to or worse than the rough patch Castle is going through now?
We get ATLs pick, and that is it.Shit, our swap predates ATL/Cle's, google AI makes it sounds like if Cle finishes worse than ATL, we get Cle's pick. Cle's only 2 up in loss column on ATL and super disfunctional and can't really add to improve bc cap situation.
This "swap on swap" situation involves the Jazz already having a swap right with Cleveland from the Donovan Mitchell trade, creating a complex chain where Atlanta could potentially swap picks with Cleveland in 2026 and 2028, and the Spurs could then swap with Atlanta, according to.
Utah finishes below Cle. Cle finishes below Atl, Atl finishes below SA. ATL swaps for Cle pick, do Spurs get that Cle pick or the ATL pick? I'd think we're tied to the ATL pick, but would love another stab at lottery!
I'm willing to take the leap and say Castle is highly unlikely to ever reach Deni's caliber on offense. Castle being 80% of Deni on offense but a true two-way player would make him more valuable on a team where he is the 3rd option though, IMO. Right now there is a bigger gap than that offensively though.Yeah, by most metrics Castle has been a better offensive player than Deni over the first 2 yrs and (probably) a better defender, but Deni's solid+ and has great switchability. But Steph with a way higher usage means comp is not apples/apples.
Deni's like 3" taller, about an 1" on WS, and 4" on reach though.
Deni is a significantly better rebounder and more secure with the ball (but very different role his first couple yrs/not apples comp)


Castle is an uber athlete and such an active defensive player whose coaches love him. I still think someone with his work ethic is going to eventually figure out that jumpshot and get to 33%+ from the three, at which point I'd much much rather have him than Avdija. And you can't ignore the difference in the extensions they'll be signing in 2029. Deni is at 30%. If Castle is at 30% then it's because he qualified for supermax as a top 15 player in the league, in which case he's a bargain. Otherwise he's at 25% of he cap.Deni's jump is outside of the norm, so I don't think it's rational to just look at Deni's jump and say Castle will make a similar one... but if he did, Castle would be a Top 10 player.
There was a time I wanted him here (he brought my college a national championship after all), but I think the shipped has sailed. Strikes me as having the same mental fortitude as Malaki Branham.
The 5% difference in maxes is fairly irrelevant to me at that point, to be honest. We'll likely need to move off of Devin and Fox by that point either way and that extra 5% isn't going to make a huge difference... but if Castle is as good on offense as Deni by then... he will absolutely be a Top 15 player in the league. He'd at +3.8 O-EPM (96th percentile) and +1.6 D-EPM (93rd percentile). The +5.4 EPM overall would be 7th in the NBA this season (98th percentile), the only players ahead of him would be Jokic, SGA, Giannis, Wemby, Curry and Kawhi. I hope it happens, that would be fucking amazing.Castle is an uber athlete and such an active defensive player whose coaches love him. I still think someone with his work ethic is going to eventually figure out that jumpshot and get to 33%+ from the three, at which point I'd much much rather have him than Avdija. And you can't ignore the difference in the extensions they'll be signing in 2029. Deni is at 30%. If Castle is at 30% then it's because he qualified for supermax as a top 15 player in the league, in which case he's a bargain. Otherwise he's at 25% of he cap.
One thing I have against Avdija is that he is heavily Ft reliant and generally those players tend to be less effective in the playoffs. I know everyone is thinking shai but his fit last year wasn’t that ridiculous, plus he is clearly a superstar who gets calls accordingly. I’m not sure avdija would have the same pull.Good post @Ariel.
This is why I brought up Deni as a thought experiment. He's 4 years older than Steph, but is on a similar contract both in duration and salary (Steph's rookie deal actually makes more than Deni in the 4th and final year of their deals which both end in 2027-28). So it's not like acquiring Deni would change the cap calculus anymore than Steph would.
Which team works better on paper?
Team A Team B Fox/Harper Fox//Harper Castle Vassell Vassell/Keldon Advija/Keldon Barnes/Champ Champagnie/Barnes Wembanyama/Kornet Wembanyama/Kornet
I'm positive that Advija is valued pretty significantly above Castle right now... by how much I don't know. 1 pick? 2 picks?
But if POR would do a straight swap... would the community here be up for that? I think I would...
What about at Castle + 1 pick? I think I'm still in. At +2 picks it gets a tougher conversation for me.
But IMO, Team B is a much more complete team. Advija is a 35.5% 3P shooter on high volume (3.1 M/100, 8.7 A/100) with size, rebounding and playmaking. Honestly it kind of pisses me off that Portland got him for as cheap as they did
We'd still need Bryant to develop and to look for legit PF depth in the offseason, but Advija at the 3 makes Champ playable at the 4, IMO.
If we were going to move Castle, this is the kind of move I would do it for.
TM3 has been playing out of his mind in January. 5 games 31.2 PPG on 55/43/90% shooting. (43% on 12.6 3pt attempts is crazy)
asking price will skyrocket till deadline.
Yea TMIII definitely getting that Desmond Bane type package. My gut feel is 2 unprotected FRPs + 1 unprotected swap + neutral salary matching contracts is the market value imo.TM3 has been playing out of his mind in January. 5 games 31.2 PPG on 55/43/90% shooting. (43% on 12.6 3pt attempts is crazy)
asking price will skyrocket till deadline.
I love the wording of this. Attractive to Ja and his camp, I don't see this being attractive to the Miami Heat, Pat Riley or Erik Spoelstra. As if Ja has any leverage here.
if it was Vassell and 2 FRP, would Spurs consider it?Yea TMIII definitely getting that Desmond Bane type package. My gut feel is 2 unprotected FRPs + 1 unprotected swap + neutral salary matching contracts is the market value imo.
For comparison I think Lauri’s MV is slightly higher even with his larger contract I’d say it’s around 3 unprotected FRPs + 1 swap or 2 picks + 2 swaps.
MPJ is 1 unprotected pick or maybe 1 pick and 1 swap but his injury history might make him gettable for 1 pick.
If you're willing up both Atlanta picks then probably yes. Wouldn't do it though. That 2026 swap might be worth its weight in gold if the Hawks trade for an injured AD at the deadline.if it was Vassell and 2 FRP, would Spurs consider it?