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 earlier this summer despite impressing for the University of Florida, where 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, Castleton is seen as a five-year college player as a low-ceiling pick-up, although his higher 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.
Buy Lakers TicketsThe Lakers officially signed Colin Castleton and D’Moi Hodge to two-way contracts pic.twitter.com/X1WOOUl5u3
— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) July 3, 2023
So, for the latest edition of LeBron Wire’s “three goals” series, we will be taking a closer look at areas the undrafted big man should be working on throughout the upcoming season as he looks to crack the Lakers rotation and prove himself as an NBA talent.
Improve his rebounding
Throughout his collegiate career, Castleton showed improvements on the glass. However, taking the next step will prove to be challenging. The NBA has elite athletes, hulking forwards, and powerful centers. Finding ways to secure angles, box out, and protect the glass is an art form that takes time to learn and develop.
Castleton will get the opportunity to adapt to a higher level of competition during his time in South Bay, where he could then earn some spot minutes with the Lakers. From there, Castleton will quickly learn what it takes to defend and attack the glass at the game’s top level.
Lock in on defense
The Lakers roster is already teeming with offensive talent. The best way for Castleton to impress and begin chipping away at the rotation is to lock in and impress on the defensive side of the floor. Castleton will likely be deployed as a drop big, allowing him to defend the paint and mop up for his teammates if they get beaten off the dribble.
Operating in drop coverage is a difficult task. Knowing how to angle your body, when to engage a drive, and when to sag back are all skills that take years to develop and hone- especially against elite talent. Yet, if Castleton makes defense a focus, he could find minutes easier to come by in his rookie season.
Crack the rotation
As a two-way player, Castleton’s primary objective this season has to be cracking the Lakers rotation. That could be for a small stretch of games or for a large portion of the season – it doesn’t matter. If Castleton can get a run of games with legitimate playing time, it will be a huge indicator that he’s on the right track.
Furthermore, it would allow Castleton to put his skills on display and begin drawing interest from other teams around the league in case his time with the Lakers is confined to the single year on his current deal.
