Reed is doing exactly what we should want. Hitting his 3s and slowly improving on ball handling, defense, etc. He’s basically a rookie. If he would have been drafted by the Wizards, and started and featured, he would have been ROY, and much further along in development. I think he’s great off the bench and getting enough minutes. Okogie is fine to start while Reed gets his feet wet.
I don’t if you are familiar with the concept of defense but no one scouting Castle’s upside were thinking he would be an all star from his offense alone - he was scouted as a high level defender with some scoring skills who one would hope would turn into a reliable shooter. Castle can learn to improve his shooting - Reed can’t learn height and likely is not going to pick up physicality as a skill very easily given how he avoids contact today. I’m not saying Reed doesn’t have upside - but his size was always going to put him at a disadvantage unless his shooting and hands were truly elite and so far both are good, but not necessarily exceptional by NBA standards.
Well, Curry wasn't good enough to get drafted at the same age... so it's not really apples to apples.
I think the landing place is also important, Castle landing in San Antonio with a great traditional bball program is great for him. Shooting comes and goes but he will become a fundamentally sound player within the Spurs program. The funny thing is that the Spurs have the luxury to dispatch Fox off the bench.....that is rarefied.... Not that they are doing it but that option is phenomenal.
Castle can learn to shoot, just like Reed can learn to improve his footwork. The scouting on Reed was he was a good 2 way player. He shows signs of it. Will Castle develop as a shooter? Most don't. There's a reason they drafted a guard with their top pick.
What's interesting is last year when Castle and Victor played together the spurs were a below average defense... maybe have to make sacrifices in the other roles defensively to make up for offensive limitations.
Victor is also not the same player, he went thru a blood clot situation that was career threatening....gave him life perspective. Now he is dominating inside the paint more instead of just trying to hoist up shots on the perimeter. Works out with Hakeem the Dream. Likely less arrogant too which does not bode well for the entire league!
Not saying he can become FVV on the defensive end because he's not FVV but what a great mentor for a smaller player to have to help build up the knowledge of how he needs to play defensively to last in this league and help his team win.
