Dark horse candidates to lead Spurs in assists this season after losing CP3

Last season, Chris Paul was brought in as the old man river organizer. His job as a 39-year-old veteran playmaker was to help the guys learn how to conduct themselves at the end of games to win, set up the offense, and bestow all the knowledge he could on the young guys. He did just that, and San Antonio thanks him for it. He's gone now, so his 7.4 assists per game will need to come from elsewhere.

De'Aaron Fox is the obvious choice. He averaged 6.8 when he made his way south to Alamo City, and if the players have taken another step forward, they should be ready to cash in when he dishes the ball to them again. But let's imagine it's not him for a second. The next man up to take the mantle of floor general is Stephon Castle, and wouldn't that be grand?

Castle has a legitimate shot to lead the Spurs in assists

A long shot does not make it a ridiculous notion, especially considering that he spent the entire year learning from CP3. Castle averaged 4.1 assists as a rookie and a secondary ball handler. That number should increase as he continues to mature as a basketball player. The Spurs' offense is predicated on playing smart basketball, so the rock will swing and find Steph's hands often.

While everyone is concerned about Fox's ability to knock down perimeter shots, I have a little more faith in the speedy point guard. He shot 37% from deep the year before last when he had a healthy pinky finger on his shooting hand, and that number rose to 39% on catch-and-shoot opportunities.

If he can get back to that, it gives Steph another outlet when he powers his way to the bucket—his specialty. Castle has been working on improving his outside shot, but how much his percentage rises remains to be seen. It's likely he'll still heavily rely on his ability to attack the paint to collapse defenses, giving him a chance to rack up assists if he makes the right play.

Dylan Harper will get his fair share of assists, too, but since he'll probably be coming off the bench, playing fewer minutes, he won't get as many opportunities as the former UConn champion.

Again, it will likely be Fox, but if there's anyone else on the roster with the tools to surprise fans in that area, it's Steph.