Stephon Castle’s glaring weakness could make him expendable sooner than fans think

San Antonio Spurs fans love watching Stephon Castle, and for good reason. He still has some of the most exciting upside of any young talent on this team. But with that being said, Castle's shooting efficiency is an area of concern that could eventually make him expendable if this team decides to shake things up.

According to shooting data organized by @automaticnba on X, Castle has the sixth-least points added among all NBA players this season when taking into consideration pull-up three-point shots, catch-and-shoot threes, free throws, and long two-point shots. That's not reason for the team to be thinking about trading him right now, but it's something that could become a real factor down the road if it's not improved upon.

The fact of the matter is that shooting power and reliability matter more now than they ever have before in NBA history. Players can have varying skillsets that allow them to be effective in multiple roles, but if they lack the ability to put points on the board in jump-shooting situations, it's still ultimately going to be to their detriment.

Stephon Castle's shooting power is his biggest weakness

Castle has big dreams, and he's talented enough to achieve them. He's one of the most versatile all-around players from his draft class, and his best-case scenario in this league is that of an All-Star level player. Trading him while he's still on an upward trajectory and improving would be downright ridiculous. However, if it's a situation where several years have passed and the shooting still isn't there, that's when you might be forced to think about making a tough decision.

At the end of the day, this comes down to the favorable situation the Spurs have found themselves in. With Victor Wembanyama as this franchise's present and future, the expectations for greatness are as high as they were during the Tim Duncan dynasty days. There's simply less time to wait for guys to develop and for ceilings to be reached.

The truth is that there is certainly a reality wherein Castle remains a cornerstone for San Antonio for many years to come, wins championships with the Spurs, and becomes a legend in South Texas. But he knows as well as anyone else does that in order for that to happen, these shooting issues are going to need to improve. Fortunately, he has the right infrastructure, coaching patience, and developmental runway to address them before they ever become a truly defining limitation.