Overview
- Wednesday reports by The Athletic and multiple outlets quote Castle and unnamed league sources saying he prioritized San Antonio and hoped to 'slide' to the Spurs in the 2024 draft.
- Castle's camp declined some private workouts, including with the Rockets, and those signals contributed to Houston passing on him with the No. 3 pick.
- Rockets coach Ime Udoka was reportedly a strong supporter of Castle before the draft, but Houston selected Reed Sheppard at No. 3 instead of Castle.
- Castle won 2024–25 Rookie of the Year and has become a major postseason contributor alongside Victor Wembanyama, a development that sharpens scrutiny of Houston's decision.
- The coverage highlights how player and agent signaling can shape draft outcomes and suggests teams will face closer second‑looks when a passed‑over prospect quickly becomes a core player for a rival.