Spurs must be taking a victory lap after being vindicated for now-genius move

After making it to the second round of the NBA playoffs, the San Antonio Spurs are well positioned to win an elusive sixth NBA championship. The same can't be said for their in-state rivals, the Houston Rockets.

They lost their first-round series to the Los Angeles Lakers 4-2 despite being heavily favored due to L.A.'s injuries. That loss will undoubtedly bring about major changes to the Rockets, who must figure out who should stay and who should go.

They should also be regretting who they selected with the third overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. Reed Sheppard was taken one pick before Spurs guard Stephon Castle and had a rough series.

The Spurs are fortunate that the Rockets drafted Reed Sheppard

Sheppard averaged just 12.2 points and 4.7 assists while shooting only 29.6% from three. Compare that to Castle, who averaged 19.8 points and 6 assists while shooting 40.7% from three on 5.4 3-point attempts per game against the Blazers.

The difference between the two players is night and day. Sheppard doesn't seem to have the faith of coach Ime Udoka, and he may have a point. Sheppard is on the small side, and that doesn't help him defensively. In fact, he leaves a lot to be desired on that end of the floor.

His 3-point shooting is also very streaky, and Sheppard isn't nearly the shooter he was when he got drafted. Factor in that he does little inside the arc and he's looking more like a rotation player than a star.

Stephon Castle is the best player of the 2024 NBA Draft

Meanwhile, Castle continues to level up. He's proven he is a legit lead playmaker in the NBA and is rapidly improving as a shooter. The Portland Blazers dared him to shoot from outside in the first round of the playoffs, and he made them pay.

With him shooting threes at a reliable clip, he has virtually no holes in his game. For all of the complaints about the Spurs ending up with three straight top-4 picks, few bring up the fact that Castle fell into their lap.

The Atlanta Hawks, Washington Wizards, and Rockets could have each drafted him. Their loss. The Spurs are happy that he fell into their laps, with him being the best-possible fit for this team.

He's arguably the second-best player on a 62-win team in just his second season. The Rockets wish they could say the same for Sheppard, who isn't nearly the player Castle is.

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