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It’s easy if a team drafts a player like LeBron James, Kevin Durant, or Giannis Antetokounmpo — how they fit into the team’s culture and system doesn’t matter because they are the system. They will be great anywhere.
However, for the role players who make up 99% of the NBA, fit can be the difference between success and failure — and the 2024 NBA Draft was full of role players.
Which players got the best fit when they were selected, and with that, who has the chance to break out? Here are my seven best fits from the first round of the NBA draft.
Everyone looks better next to Victor Wembanyama, but this is an almost perfect fit.
Castle is a 6’6″ guard who has shown skill in using picks to get his shot or find open teammates — he knows how to initiate the offense. He also worked well off the ball — Castle was a fantastic slasher off the weak side at UConn. Have Castle splitting time initiating the offense with Wembanyama — each of them setting up each other and teammates like Devin Vassell — and you can see a path to the Spurs becoming an offensive force.
Castle is also a versatile, switchable defender, and the Spurs need that with Wembanyama serving as the backstop.
The only question is Castle’s jump shot — he has to develop a consistent one to take full advantage of his opportunity. Castle was divisive as a prospect because not everyone thought his jumper would come around, but count me among the believers. Once Castle gets that jumper working, he will be a perfect fit for what the Spurs are trying to grow into.
Zach Edey to Memphis
With Steven Adams out for Memphis in the 2022 playoffs, it was obvious how much they missed him doing the dirty work for this high-flying team: Setting big picks, rebounding, protecting the rim. Adams missed all of last season following PCL surgery and the Grizzlies traded him to Houston at the deadline.
Zach Edey is going to step right into those shoes.
Edey will set massive screens and Ja Morant is going to love finding him on lobs. Edey will protect the rim and be a strong defensive fit next to Jaren Jackson Jr. He’s going to have to step up his conditioning to run…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/2024-nba-draft-round-1-111416713.html
Author : NBC Sports
Publish date : 2024-06-27 11:14:16
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