Tag: Colin Castleton

Former Florida C Colin Castleton signs two-way deal with Grizzlies

Former Florida center Colin Castleton has signed a two-way contract with the Memphis Grizzlies two weeks after being waived by the Los Angeles Lakers.

Former Florida big man [autotag]Colin Castleton[/autotag] has signed a two-way contract with the Memphis Grizzlies, the team announced on Wednesday.

The 24-year-old played three seasons with the Gators, leaving the program after the 2022-23 season to pursue his NBA career. He spent his rookie year as a two-way player for the Los Angeles Lakers after going undrafted.

Castleton started 23 of 24 games for the South Bay Lakers during the NBA G League Showcase Cup and regular season, averaging a double-double (16.4 points, 10.5 rebounds). He appeared in 16 games during the NBA regular season for the Lakers, contributing 1.5 points over 3.7 minutes per game. Los Angeles waived him on October 19.

“Beginning in the 2017 offseason, NBA rosters expanded from 15 to 17 players with the addition of two spots for players under ‘Two-Way Contracts,'” per the NBA G League site. “NBA teams may have up to three players under NBA Two-Way Contracts who may be active for up to 50 games with their NBA team. Players signed to Two-Way Contracts are paid one salary for their time in both leagues.

“Only players with three or fewer years of NBA service are able to sign Two-Way Contracts, which can be for either one or two seasons.”

Memphis recently signed Jay Huff to a standard NBA contract, opening up the third two-way spot. Castleton gives the Grizzlies some frontcourt depth behind 2024 first-round pick Zach Edey, who is considered a project player. Through five games, Edey is averaging 8.8 points and 4.4 rebounds per game while playing limited minutes.

Castleton is a similar player to Edey in that he struggled to space the floor but provides solid defense and rebounding. He averaged 2.49 blocks per game at Florida, setting a program record, and put up 1.5 blocks per game in the G League last year. USA TODAY Sports named him the Defensive Player of the Year in 2023.

Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Summer Lakers finally get a win against the Hawks on Wednesday

With their biggest headline-maker finally playing well, the Lakers’ summer league team finally got into the victory column.

This was starting to look like a rough summer for the Los Angeles Lakers. They lost each of their three games during the California Classic, and they started out the NBA’s main summer league with two losses to the Houston Rockets and Boston Celtics.

On Wednesday, they took on the Atlanta Hawks without Dalton Knecht, who was sitting out for rest, and center Moses Brown, who has a non-COVID-19 illness.

Los Angeles got off quickly and took an early 12-2 lead, and although Atlanta came back to make things close and then take a double-digit lead in the third quarter, it didn’t fold.

It fought back down the stretch, and with the game on the line, L.A. stood tall defensively and got a stop on the final possession to preserve an 87-86 win.

A few of its players stepped up to finally get a victory in summer league play.

Colin Castleton: While Castleton may not have convinced people he deserves a spot in the big league Lakers’ center rotation, he has looked good for much of this summer, as he did last summer.

He made all but one of his nine field-goal attempts to score 17 points, and he also grabbed 12 rebounds. Castleton also dished off six assists in 24 minutes and showed his ability to facilitate in the set offense.

Blake Hinson: Hinson, who was an excellent 3-point shooter at the University of Pittsburgh (he shot 42.1% from downtown this past season), has been hit-and-miss during summer league play. But on Wednesday, he was able to get his shot to fall consistently.

He went 4-of-10 from beyond the arc, and overall, he scored 14 points in 19 minutes off the bench.

Maxwell Lewis: Lewis had another rough outing as he shot just 3-of-12 from the floor. In the third quarter, he put up a nifty spin move and looked to throw down a dunk on the fast break, but he had his attempt blocked by E.J. Liddell.

On a positive note, he did display some defense on Wednesday by blocking two shots

Lewis appears to have some trouble finishing near the rim. But his raw skills are apparent, and if he puts in enough work, perhaps he will become a rotation player in the NBA before long.

Bronny James: Finally, James showed some of the potential he displayed in high school. He made each of his first three shots of the contest, and he even hit his first 3-pointer after going 0-of-15 from that distance prior to Wednesday in summer league play.

The 19-year-old finished with 12 points on 5-of-11 shooting from the field and 2-of-5 from downtown.

Former Gators center heads back to Lakers on two-way contract

Colin Castleton will get another taste of NBA action thanks to a two-way contract signed on Saturday.

Former Florida basketball standout [autotag]Colin Castleton[/autotag] is heading back to Los Angeles to join the Lakers on a two-way contract signed Saturday, according to a report from the Los Angeles Times.

The 6-foot-11-inch, 250-pound frontcourt player showed signs of potential last year’s summer league. He averaged 14.1 points, 9.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.6 blocked shots while shooting 53.8% from the field in 12 regular season games with the G League’s South Bay Lakers.

Castleton also appeared in 16 regular season games with the Lakers after signing his first two-way deal during the 2023-24 campaign, earning 59 minutes of playing time — including a 14-minute outing on Nov. 8 against Houston. The rookie center amassed 24 points on 9 of 16 shooting along with 12 rebounds, three assists and two steals.

Castleton has shown some ability to box out, rebound, score inside and even facilitate from the elbow or high post area. In Los Angeles’ first 2024 summer league game on Saturday, he posted 11 points, 10 rebounds and three assists in 27 minutes.

Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Lakers re-signed Colin Castleton to a two-way contract

The Lakers have retained Colin Castleton, an intriguing undrafted big man they signed last summer.

The Los Angeles Lakers have two or three roster flaws or weaknesses right now, and just about everyone agrees that one of them is a legitimate defensive center to back up Anthony Davis or, at least occasionally, play alongside Davis.

Jaxson Hayes has only been a marginal contributor who lacks the ability and strength to play positional defense, and Christian Wood is primarily an offensive-minded player. That has left Los Angeles in a situation where it has had to try to develop Colin Castleton.

Castleton, who was an undrafted free agent last summer, flashed some promise and intrigue in last year’s summer league. While he barely played for the Lakers this past season, he did average 14.1 points, 9.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.6 blocked shots while shooting 53.8% from the field in 12 regular season games with the G League’s South Bay Lakers.

On Saturday, the big league Lakers re-signed the 6-foot-10, 250-pound big man to a two-way contract.

Castleton has shown some ability to box out, rebound, score inside and even facilitate from the elbow or high post area. In L.A.’s first 2024 summer league game on Saturday, he posted 11 points, 10 rebounds and three assists in 27 minutes.

Lakers’ 2024 summer league schedule and broadcast info

A look at when each of the Lakers’ summer league games will take place and where fans can watch each contest.

For the next few weeks, people will be able to get a glimpse at some of the Los Angeles Lakers’ most promising young players when they take part in summer league play. Jalen Hood-Schifino, the No. 17 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, won’t participate due to a back procedure he had in March, but Bronny James, Dalton Knecht, Maxwell Lewis and Colin Castleton, among others, will play.

In recent years, summer league has become much more than an opportunity for incoming rookies to get their feet wet in the NBA’s rough waters. It has become a league-wide event, not just for players or even fans, but also for executives, as many general managers make the trip to Las Vegas to be in attendance during games.

The Lakers’ summer league schedule will begin with the California Classic, which will take place starting this weekend. They will face the Sacramento Kings on Saturday, the Golden State Warriors on Sunday and the Miami Heat on Wednesday.

Then the team will make its way to Las Vegas for the main summer league. It will play at least four games there beginning on Friday, July 12.

Every summer league game the Lakers will play in will be televised by either ESPN, ESPN 2 or NBA TV.

Colin Castleton talks about summer plans, says he wants to stay with Lakers

Center Colin Castleton is looking to get better after spending much of his rookie season in the G League.

Some feel the Los Angeles Lakers’ biggest weakness right now is the lack of a true serviceable center other than Anthony Davis. Jaxson Hayes and Christian Wood, two backup centers they brought in as free agents last summer, were thoroughly disappointing this season, and they may be looking for a serious upgrade at that position.

They do have an intriguing young prospect at that position in Colin Castleton. An undrafted rookie this season, Castleton appeared in just 16 games for a total of 59 minutes this season, but he did well in the G League with the South Bay Lakers.

He will soon be a restricted free agent, but it sounds like he’s focused on remaining with the Purple and Gold.

Via Lakers Nation:

“Yeah, for sure, definitely. That’s my goal, that’s my plan, I want to play with the Lakers,” Castleton said in an interview with Lakers Nation’s Trevor Lane and Sean Davis. “Just going with the flow right now, seeing how everything falls out. Just working out every day, focusing on that. That’s my plan right now, being able to play with the Lakers is something that I plan on doing so we’ll see what happens with that.”

Castleton started to whet the appetite of Lakers fans by showing off a unique set of skills in summer league player last year. He plans on participating in summer league play again this year.

“Just going into Summer League that’s my mindset. I’m not really focused on anything else,” Castleton added. “Kind of just finished up the year, got right back out to LA, and my mindset right now is just getting better, like I said focusing on my shooting. I haven’t really even thought of anything outside of getting better within my game.

“Focusing on my body and the weight room just as much as I am on my shooting. Just to get my weight up a little bit more. I’ve been working on little bit of things core wise, a little bit upper body, but a lot of lower body as well. Just focusing on my strength a little bit more and then just the shooting part. But as far as next year or my contract or what’s gonna happen, I have no idea so just going in with a positive mindset.”

While the 6-foot-11 24-year-old can facilitate out of the high post, he has no outside shot to speak of. Adding one would significantly raise his ceiling as a pro player.

The Lakers have had success in recent years finding diamonds in the rough such as Austin Reaves and Alex Caruso. If Castleton turns out to be the next one, it would greatly help augment their frontcourt a bit while giving them a serviceable young player to develop.

Colin Castleton will miss time due to a right wrist fracture

The Lakers are dealing with yet another injury at a time in which they have already had a lack of frontcourt depth.

Injuries have been a major impediment for the Los Angeles Lakers this season. While LeBron James and Anthony Davis have been relatively healthy and available for most of their games, they have had to deal with several of their other key players missing stretches of action.

Guard Gabe Vincent, who was supposed to give them a boost defensively, has played in just five games and underwent knee surgery several weeks ago. Forward Jarred Vanderbilt missed the first several weeks of the season with a heel ailment, and just when he was starting to play very well and get in top game shape, he suffered a foot injury that will keep him out for at least a few more weeks.

Meanwhile, L.A.’s big man depth has been depleted due to a swollen knee Christian Wood is dealing with. In addition, undrafted rookie big man Colin Castleton has a fractured right wrist that will sideline him for some time.

Castleton, an undrafted rookie who is on a two-way contract, has played very little for the Lakers, but he has an interesting skill set. The team is likely hoping he could play a role for it off the bench in the seasons to come.

Young Lakers are grateful LeBron James got them their big payday in NBA in-season tournament

A number of young Lakers have said LeBron James wanted to win the NBA Cup in part to help them achieve financial security.

The Los Angeles Lakers won the NBA’s first in-season tournament on Saturday by pushing aside the Indiana Pacers 123-109. Although it is fair to question exactly how much weight winning the NBA Cup will carry for a player or franchise, it is safe to say this tourney has been a success for the league.

In addition to raising the level of competition and excitement among players, it has also resulted in a big payday for them. In particular, Lakers players on standard contracts each earned $500,000 while men on two-way contracts netted $250,000 for winning the tourney.

LeBron James, who was named the tourney’s MVP, probably has $500,000 in cash wedged between the cushions of his couch or underneath the seats in his car. But for L.A.’s young players, a six-figure payday means a ton. It means securing their financial future and those of their families, not to mention an opportunity to give back to their communities and help the underprivileged.

A number of these players were grateful for the big bag they secured on Saturday and for James’ help in doing so.

Lakers 3 goals: Colin Castleton must work on his rebounding

Here are three goals for Colin Castleton to focus on in the coming season.

In the upcoming season, Colin Castleton will split his time between the Los Angeles Lakers and the South Bay Lakers. The 6-foot-11 center went undrafted this summer despite impressing for the University of Florida, with which he averaged 16 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3 blocks and 2.7 assists per game.

Castleton ended his final collegiate season with an All-SEC defensive team selection. However, the five-year college player was judged as a high-floor, low-ceiling pickup. That floor could make him an interesting prospect at the next level. As such, the Lakers will look closer at the versatile big man to see if he can develop and find a role for himself within the team’s rotation.

So, for the latest edition of LeBron Wire’s “three goals” series, we take a closer look at areas the undrafted big man should work on throughout the season as he looks to crack the Lakers’ rotation and prove himself as an NBA talent.

 

Colin Castleton says Austin Reaves has paved the way for undrafted players

Lakers rookie Colin Castleton is appreciative of Austin Reaves for paving the way for undrafted players to succeed in the NBA.

It used to be true that if a basketball player went undrafted, he had two chances of making it in the NBA: slim and none.

But that has changed over the last few years, as a handful of undrafted men have become viable NBA players.

One great example is Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves, who had a promising rookie season and blossomed in a big way this past season. He was recently rewarded with a four-year contract worth over $50 million, and he could possibly take another jump forward this season.

The Lakers have another promising undrafted prospect. Colin Castleton is a center who spent the last three years at the University of Florida. Castleton displayed an intriguing set of skills during NBA Summer League a few weeks ago, and the team is hoping he will fill its need for a center who defends and rebounds at a high level.

Castleton gave credit to Reaves for paving the way for undrafted players to succeed at the next level.

Via Lakers Nation:

“(Reaves) laid the foundation. Somebody who has a hell of a story, somebody who is doubted, had chip on his shoulder and I feel like I relate to him a lot,” Castleton said. “I feel like going undrafted, you definitely have a chip on your shoulder, you have a little bit more of a reason to continue to play well and do what you’re supposed to do.

“You can’t have any slip ups, so watching his path and what he did, all the stories I hear about him working hard and the mindset he has is something I’m definitely trying to model and continue to follow his footsteps. He’s already done it and I’m taking that same route in a way, so being able to learn from him, continue to watch him, he just got paid really well, so he’s doing everything he needs to do.”

Los Angeles has only one true center on its roster, that being Jaxson Hayes. It has been considering signing another one in free agency, but nothing has transpired, at least not yet.