Windhorst: NBA Insiders Stunned Stephon Castle Wasn’t in De’Aaron Fox, LaVine Trade

Zach BacharContributor IFebruary 3, 2025

Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images

There was some surprise around the rest of the NBA after the San Antonio Spurs didn’t give up standout rookie Stephon Castle in a blockbuster three-team trade involving De’Aaron Fox and Zach LaVine on Sunday, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst.

“I haven’t polled all 29, 28 other teams but the reaction from the league is, ‘My god, these Spurs got De’Aaron Fox, didn’t have to give up Stephon Castle,'” Windhorst said on Monday’s episode of The Hoop Collective (6:40 mark).

The Sacramento Kings sent Fox to the Spurs, receiving a package headlined by LaVine and three-first round picks, per ESPN’s Shams Charania. The Chicago Bulls came away from the trade with Zach Collins, Tre Jones, Kevin Huerter and their own 2025 draft pick from the Spurs.

Bleacher Report @BleacherReport🚨BREAKING: Kings are finalizing a deal to send De’Aaron Fox to the Spurs in a multi team trade that will also send Bulls’ Zach LaVine to the Kings, per @ShamsCharania pic.twitter.com/eQhPWJZp1R

It’s impressive that San Antonio was able to acquire a new star alongside Victor Wembanyama without giving up Castle, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2024 draft.

The former UConn standout is in the midst of an impressive rookie year, as his scoring average of 12.0 points per game ranks No. 1 among all first-year players to suit up in at least 25 contests this season (via NBA.com).

Castle is also averaging 3.6 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 0.8 steals in 25.6 minutes per game. While he’s shooting just 27.4 percent from three-point territory, he’s also connecting on 47.6 percent of his two-point attempts.

The 20-year-old has continued to look more comfortable as the year has progressed, averaging 16.1 points each night over his last 10 games.

As the Spurs attempt to compete for their first playoff appearance since the 2018-19 season after acquiring Fox, they were able to hold onto Castle in trade negotiations with Chicago and Sacramento.