Projected lottery pick Stephon Castle's potential fit alongside Scoot Henderson was a key factor in his appeal for the Portland Trail Blazers at pick No. 7 in the 2024 NBA Draft. Castle mainly played off-ball as a freshman at Connecticut. He was a significant contributor to their NCAA championship run and thrived as a Swiss army knife guard, impacting winning without necessarily needing the ball in his hands.
Stephon Castle views himself as a point guard in the NBA
Now, Castle doesn't fit Portland's roster needs at pick No. 7. Recent reports indicate that Castle no longer sees himself as an off-ball player (subscription required) in the NBA. ESPN draft expert Jonathan Givony reveals that Castle is now "being selective with where he works out, targeting teams that need a lead ball handler." Castle's decision to only work out for teams needing a starting point makes some wonder if he already has a promise from a team selecting in the top ten, but that remains to be seen.
Castle's recent shift to exclusively playing point guard is an interesting development that could impact how the lottery shakes out. It eliminates working out for several teams picking in the mid-late lottery around where Castle projects to go. Some teams with lead ball handlers in that range include the Rockets (pick No. 3), Pistons (pick No. 5), Hornets (pick No. 6), Blazers (pick No. 7), and Grizzlies (pick No. 9).
Givony also points out that "the new CBA rules have granted teams wider access to medicals, reducing agents' leverage in steering players to specific destinations." While this doesn't necessarily rule out these teams from selecting Castle, it does make it much less likely.
It's worth noting that General Manager Joe Cronin and the Blazers' front office have an extensive history of selecting players who have previously worked out for them. If Castle is still available at No. 7, it appears to be unlikely the Blazers select him now, given the recent reports.
With his size and agility, the 6-foot-6 Castle is still an intriguing draft prospect as a point guard, especially on the defensive end. He could have a very productive NBA career as a point guard, just likely not with the Blazers.