The San Antonio Spurs are one of the best-positioned teams to win a championship right now. Victor Wembanyama is one of the best players in the league, but right alongside him are guys like Dylan Harper and Stephon Castle. The Castle pick, in particular, was an impressive one, and the Lu Dort trade proves that.

The Oklahoma City Thunder just recently traded Dort to the Atlanta Hawks in a three-team deal that also included the Dallas Mavericks. However, another sticking point of the trade is that Zaccharie Risacher was sent to the Mavs. Risacher was the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft – Castle’s class – and he’s already on the move.

In 2024, the top of the draft class was rough. Yet the Spurs still somehow managed to walk away with a player who will be a face of their franchise for years to come.

Lu Dort trade proves how elite the Stephon Castle pick was

After Risacher, whom the Hawks selected first overall, the Washington Wizards picked Alex Sarr. Then, the Houston Rockets picked Reed Sheppard with the No. 3 pick.

Right after those three selections, the Spurs were able to choose Castle with the fourth overall pick. And right now, he looks like the best player in the entire class.

Sarr is turning into a solid player for the Wizards, especially on the defensive end. And Sheppard actually had a solid season, earning some shouts for the Sixth Man of the Year award.

But Castle’s impact has stretched far beyond what any of those guys have been able to accomplish, especially when it comes to playing actual impactful playoff minutes.

Castle’s play on both ends of the court has been an integral part of the Spurs’ success. This year, he was one of the best players on one of the best teams in basketball at just 21 years old.

Meanwhile, the Hawks just traded a first overall pick two years after selecting him. All they got in return was Dort and Ryan Nembhard, and they had to give up two second-round picks in the deal.

The top of the 2024 NBA Draft was an absolute mess. The first pick is already about to be on his second team after just two seasons in the league.

Yet somehow, some way, the Spurs managed to find an absolute gem with the No. 4 pick. It was an elite selection by a team that is now reaping the rewards just two years later.

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