Finally watched a couple of the games after the 1st one. The kid looks like a decent prospect, he needs to add some weight, but he has some talent.
He looked really good again against Memphis on a bunch of plays he made and with his touch scoring in different ways, and especially good putting the ball on the floor. One coast to coast layup after a rebound in total control. He plays a lot like a much bigger version of AR at times. Both those guys together on the floor at some point whenever is going to be awesome. Colin’s going to look even better playing with more talented players.
I'm hoping he has a Max like progression. I just don't think hes going to have a Reaves like ascent but I like White Castle getting stronger and start dominating hopefully some G league games close to the end of the season. That will hopefully set him up like Max to get into the rotation next year. I don't know if it's an indictments on JHS, Lakers positional needs, or good for Castleton for showing some really good flashes, but it seems like a legit possibility that he'll break into the rotation sooner then the rest of this rookie class
If I’m the Lakers not only am I giving Colin all the center position skills we want him to work on and get better than he is presently, with those he already does well ….. and get good on the skills he needs to especially work on …. but I am having Handy work with Castleton with the same drills as he is giving to Hachimura. He clearly has moves he’s only now being told when you have an opportunity in rhythm to go ahead and go for it. He’s executed several nice pieces of footwork ending in sweet turnaround Js, which are hard to contest with his height and length and his no doubt about to get even better already good athleticism. That handle of his at his height to make moves like Phil is teaching Rui, plus taking a rebound up the floor on the dribble to make a play is a thing of beauty already.
^^^ even busted out a bite your/my nails behind the back dribble down there in traffic around the key, like his “stable mate”.
THIS is going to be the ONE!! Complete and Comprehensive!! If this guy's any good. Spoiler Spoiler: ***The ONE***
Look how long it took Jokic to get proper notoriety There are reasons he is undervalued and fighting uphill at his chance. Stay hungry young fella. You hold the hopes of so many youth hoopers with a dream to be a baller in spite of all of the obstacles before them.
the passing looks real, as in it will translate. he'll have to become a bigger threat to score to make it pop, though. one thing i like--and that has definitely come from coaching and experience--is that he keeps his hands high on both ends of the floor. so many bigs don't do this, and it's how he gets a lot of his blocks, deflections, and short-range finishes past more athletic players. zubac-ish in this way. where he's not zubac-ish is in mass. i don't see how he can pack on enough to the frame to become a banger like zubac or even olynyk. i think that will be a limiting factor for him, as he's got the physical profile of a pf. but i guess i thought that about domantas sabonis when he came out, too. but domantas was 19 and castleton has had extra years to develop the frame. love the ability to push on the defensive rebound; don't love that several of his blocks should have been boxouts prior to the block. i hope we get to see him play against the big boys in the preseason some, as i think we can get a much better read there. summer league is such a mess.
He needs to get to 245 and learn how to use that. If he can do that and really cut down the fouling, he'll have a NBA career. That won't be this year. I think we'll convert the contract when the two way runs out but don't think he's physically ready. Guys are getting into his chest and bumping him out of the way in summer league. Not ideal. Offensively the skills all translate, which is promising.
From the ringer's SL thoughts on Lakers players that @abeer3 posted in the NBA 2K24 Summer League July 7-17 thread "There were four traditional centers taken in the first two rounds, and if you forced me to make a wild prediction, it’d be that it’s entirely possible that the undrafted Castleton ends up as more serviceable than any of them, save for Wemby." .... and above that, "Past that, Colin Castleton is definitely someone to keep an eye on. Castleton is a 6-foot-11 center from Florida who earned a two-way deal from the Lakers, and it would not shock me if he emerges as a rotation big in the next few years, if not sooner. I never took him to be all that agile for his size, but in this setting, he looked peppier than I’d seen him in a while. His passing might be his most marketable skill. Last season, his assist percentage was in the 97th percentile in the entire country, and in a league that I suspect will continue to become more cutting and dribble-handoff oriented, he could find himself at the right place at the right time, provided he defends and adds other things. In predraft interviews, he talked about (see video link above), which is ambitious but possible. He went 2-for-32 from 3-point range in five college seasons, and yet … his shot looks OK? I can’t believe I’m talking myself into the idea that his shot is coming around. I must be losing my mind."
Smart play by Colin, snuggling up to boss man Kurt. The Rambii might demand he starts, just like they did with Deandre.
Who’s the guy camera right next to Colin and in the middle with arms on Linda and Jeanie? Maybe Colin’s and Austin’s agent on the right?
I think the guys next to Collins and Reaves are siblings…at least there’s a family resemblance to me.
