The 2024 NBA Draft was widely viewed as a weak class, but the San Antonio Spurs have already found a gem in Stephon Castle. With two top-eight picks, the Spurs selected Castle at No. 4, and he has quickly become their best perimeter defender, averaging 17 points, seven assists, and five rebounds per game this season. It’s a move that solidifies their backcourt for years to come.

Meanwhile, the Minnesota Timberwolves took a different path. They acquired the No. 8 pick from San Antonio in exchange for a 2031 first-rounder and used it to select Rob Dillingham, hoping he’d be their point guard of the future. But Dillingham struggled to find playing time and was inconsistent, leading to his trade to Chicago at the deadline for Ayo Dosunmu. While Dosunmu has provided solid depth as a defender and playmaker, the trade cost Minnesota young forward Leonard Miller and four second-round picks. Now, Dosunmu is a free agent, and re-signing him could cost $15 million or more per year.

The Spurs, by contrast, have Castle locked in at just $10 million next season and under $13 million the year after. With his trajectory, an All-Star appearance seems within reach. It’s a stark reminder that in a weak draft class, the right pick—and the right patience—can make all the difference. San Antonio solved its backcourt issues. Minnesota, it seems, is still searching.