Following the NBA’s punishment connected to the Kawhi Leonard investigation, the Clippers have been left in an extremely difficult position. With five first-round picks taken away, their traditional route toward rebuilding through the draft has been severely damaged.
That could force Los Angeles to become far more aggressive in free agency — and one young Spurs star could eventually find himself directly in their sights.
Stephon Castle is the name that could make San Antonio particularly uncomfortable.
The Spurs have made Castle a major part of their young core alongside Victor Wembanyama and Dylan Harper, but his long-term future could eventually become a major talking point if he reaches restricted free agency.
And with the Clippers potentially relying heavily on free agency for years to come, they could become one of the teams watching Castle’s situation most closely.
The Clippers could target San Antonio’s rising star
Los Angeles may have little choice but to become aggressive when it comes to restricted free agents.
Without their normal supply of first-round selections, the Clippers could attempt to compensate by throwing significant money at young players developed by other teams.
Castle would be an obvious candidate.
The 2024 No. 4 overall pick is already viewed as an important piece of San Antonio’s future, and another major step forward during the 2026-27 campaign could dramatically increase his value.
The situation could become particularly interesting if Castle does not earn an All-Star or All-NBA selection next season.
That would potentially leave the Spurs with a decision to make regarding how much they are prepared to offer him on his next contract.
Houston’s Amen Thompson recently agreed to a five-year deal worth $208 million, setting an important benchmark for young players from his draft class.
If Castle produces a significantly stronger season, there is little reason to believe his representatives would view that figure as an unrealistic target.
Spurs still control Castle’s future
Despite the possibility of outside interest, San Antonio remains firmly in the driver’s seat.
Castle would be a restricted free agent, meaning the Spurs would have the right to match an offer from the Clippers or any other interested team.
That gives San Antonio a major advantage.
Even if Los Angeles were prepared to offer Castle a four-year maximum contract, the Spurs could potentially provide a five-year deal that would be considerably more lucrative.
In other words, the Clippers could make Castle an enormous offer and still fail to take him away.
That is why so much may depend on what happens on the court this season.
If Castle takes the leap San Antonio is expecting and establishes himself as a genuine star next to Wembanyama, the Spurs would have every reason to pay him accordingly.
There could be little hesitation about giving him a contract close to the 25 percent maximum.
However, if Castle’s development stalls and his production remains closer to last season’s level, San Antonio could look for a deal closer to the contract Thompson received.
That could create the only realistic opening for another franchise to become involved.
San Antonio has a huge decision ahead
For Spurs supporters, the ideal outcome is obvious.
Castle develops into the player many around the organization believe he can become, and San Antonio reaches an agreement with him before the situation ever becomes complicated.
The franchise would then have Wembanyama, Castle and Harper locked into the core of what could become one of the NBA’s most dangerous young teams.
The Clippers, meanwhile, would be left searching elsewhere.
But if negotiations become difficult, Los Angeles could suddenly become a serious nuisance.
The Spurs have already seen what can happen when a former star becomes the centre of a complicated situation involving the Clippers. They will have no desire to allow another important player to become entangled in a similar saga.
For now, though, Castle remains firmly in San Antonio’s plans.
The next chapter will depend largely on how spectacularly he performs this season — because if he makes the leap everyone is waiting for, the Spurs may have to prepare for a very expensive battle to keep their young star away from the Clippers. ::
