By Tom Orsborn, Staff writer | San Antonio Express-News (SAEN), 2024-06-27 12:52:40
由生成式人工智能翻译，译文内容可能不准确或不完整，以原文为准。
周三，在纽约巴克莱中心举行的 2024 年 NBA 选秀大会上，斯蒂芬·卡斯尔(Stephon Castle)出席。
马刺球星维克托·文班亚马(Victor Wembanyama)周四对球队用首轮第四顺位选中斯蒂芬·卡斯尔(Stephon Castle)表示认可，称他“非常高兴”这支重建中的球队决定签下这位前康涅狄格大学后卫。
“（卡斯尔）是本次选秀中最具 NBA 实力的球员之一，同时也是一个非常好的人，”文班亚马在巴黎法国篮球联合会举行的新闻发布会上说道，根据法国网站 Trash Talk 的报道。
文班亚马还强调，马刺在多年考察这位佐治亚州球员后对他非常了解，总经理布莱恩·赖特(Brian Wright)在周三晚上球队选中卡斯尔后也强调了这一点。
“他是一位高中时期评价很高的球员，所以我们尽量多花时间和他在一起，去了解他，”赖特说。“所以（我们）会花时间去看他的训练，去看他的比赛，甚至在我们被允许观看那些球员的草根比赛时，我们也会确保（我们）对他有所关注。”
除了周四的评论外，文班亚马还在马刺选中卡斯尔后，通过 FaceTime 应用软件欢迎他加入马刺。
“我非常非常高兴我们做出了这个选择，”文班亚马在马刺发布的一段视频中告诉卡斯尔。“我不知道你感觉如何，但我对开始一起训练感到超级兴奋。”
卡斯尔将在马刺身披 5 号球衣，他回答说：“我迫不及待地想和你一起上场，兄弟。”
文班亚马还对亚特兰大老鹰队用状元签选中少年扎卡里·里萨谢(Zaccharie Risacher)做出了回应。这是继 2023 年 6 月马刺选中文班亚马之后，连续第二年有一名法国少年成为状元。
“我们可以在选秀中连续三年成为状元，为什么不能四年呢？”文班亚马说道。
薪资管理工作仍在进行中
赖特表示，马刺尚未就后卫德文特·格雷厄姆(Devonte’ Graham)、前锋朱利安·尚帕尼(Julian Champagnie)和中锋查尔斯·巴斯西(Charles Bassey)即将到来的薪资保障截止日期做出决定。
在格雷厄姆 2024-25 赛季 1265 万美元的薪水中，只有 285 万美元是有保障的。马刺必须在 7 月 1 日之前决定是否全额保障。
马刺还面临着 8 月 1 日的最后期限，以决定是否全额保障尚帕尼 2024-25 赛季 300 万美元的合同和巴斯西 2024-25 赛季 250 万美元的薪水。
尚帕尼在上赛季作为二年级球员首发了 59 场比赛，场均得到 6.8 分、2.8 个篮板和 1.4 次助攻，三分球命中率为 36.5%，场均出手 3.7 次。他将在本周六年满 23 岁。
巴斯西在去年 12 月初代表马刺的 G 联盟附属球队奥斯汀马刺队比赛时遭遇赛季报销的 ACL 撕裂之前，在 19 场比赛中场均上场近 11 分钟，得到 3.3 分、4.0 个篮板、1.1 次助攻和 0.9 次盖帽。
三年级球员巴斯西将于 10 月 28 日年满 24 岁。
科林斯很享受手术后的“良好”恢复
赖特表示，前锋/中锋扎克·科林斯(Zach Collins)在赛季结束后接受右肩盂唇撕裂修复手术后的恢复过程没有出现并发症。
“他恢复得很好，”赖特说。“他每天都在努力训练。显然，这很不幸，但你们都了解扎克。他是一个努力工作的人，他以前也经历过这样的情况。他超级好胜，所以他对待康复就像对待比赛一样，所以他恢复得非常好。”
26 岁的科林斯在 2023-24 赛季出场 69 次，场均得到 11.2 分、5.5 个篮板和 2.8 次助攻。他在场均出手 2.6 次的情况下，三分球命中率仅为 32.0%，令人失望，而他在 2022-23 赛季场均出手 2.3 次的情况下，三分球命中率为 37.4%。
周三，在纽约巴克莱中心举行的 NBA 选秀大会首轮比赛中，斯蒂芬·卡斯尔(右)在被圣安东尼奥马刺队以第四顺位选中后，与 NBA 总裁亚当·萧华(Adam Silver)合影留念。
周三，在纽约市布鲁克林区的巴克莱中心举行的 2024 年 NBA 选秀大会首轮比赛中，斯蒂芬·卡斯尔在被圣安东尼奥马刺队以第四顺位选中后做出了反应。
2024 年 6 月 26 日，纽约州纽约市 - 6 月 26 日，在纽约市布鲁克林区的巴克莱中心举行的 2024 年 NBA 选秀大会首轮比赛中，斯蒂芬·卡斯尔在被圣安东尼奥马刺队以第四顺位选中后做出了反应。(图片来自 Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
2024 年 6 月 26 日，星期三，在胜利资本表演中心外举行的 2024 年 NBA 选秀大会首轮现场观看派对上，头顶屏幕显示马刺选择了康涅狄格大学后卫斯蒂芬·卡斯尔作为第四顺位新秀。
2024 年 6 月 26 日，星期三，在胜利资本表演中心外举行的 2024 年 NBA 选秀大会首轮现场观看派对上，球迷们在马刺用第四顺位选中康涅狄格大学后卫斯蒂芬·卡斯尔后庆祝。
周三，在纽约市巴克莱中心举行的 NBA 选秀大会首轮比赛中，斯蒂芬·卡斯尔(右)在被圣安东尼奥马刺队以第四顺位选中后，与 NBA 总裁亚当·萧华握手。
周三，在纽约市巴克莱中心举行的 NBA 选秀大会首轮比赛中，斯蒂芬·卡斯尔在被圣安东尼奥马刺队以第四顺位选中后，与前康涅狄格大学队友多诺万·克林根(Donovan Clingan)庆祝。
点击查看原文：Wembanyama applauds Spurs' decision to select Castle
Wembanyama applauds Spurs’ decision to select Castle
Stephon Castle at the 2024 NBA Draft held at the Barclays Center on Wednesday in New York.
Spurs star Victor Wembanyama gave his stamp of approval Thursday to the club’s selection of Stephon Castle with the draft’s fourth overall pick, saying he’s “very happy” with the rebuilding team’s decision to add the former Connecticut guard.
“(Castle) is one of the most NBA-ready players in this draft and a very good person too,” Wembanyama said during a press conference at the French Basketball Federation in Paris, per the French website Trash Talk.
Wembanyama also stressed that the Spurs know Castle well after years of scouting the Georgia native, something general manager Brian Wright also emphasized after the team selected Castle on Wednesday night.
“He was a pretty highly rated high school player, so we tried to spend as much time with those guys as possible and get to know him,” Wright said. “So (it was) spending time at practice, going to games, even in the grassroots scene when we’re allowed to see those guys, we try to make sure we (had) eyes on him.”
In addition to his comments Thursday, Wembanyama welcomed Castle to the Spurs via the Facetime app after the Spurs made the pick.
“I’m so, so happy with what we did,” Wembanyama told Castle in a video released by the Spurs. “I don’t know how you feel, but I’m super excited to start working.”
Castle, who will wear No. 5 for the Spurs, responded with, “I can’t wait to get out there, buddy.”
Wembanyama also reacted to the Atlanta Hawks selecting teen Zaccharie Risacher with the No. 1 overall pick. It was the second year in a row that a French teen was the first player off the board after the Spurs drafted Wembanyama in June 2023.
“We can be number one in the draft three years in a row, why not four?” Wembanyama said.
Salary housekeeping moves still pending
The Spurs have not made decisions yet regarding looming salary guarantee deadlines for guard Devonte’ Graham, forward Julian Champagnie and center Charles Bassey, Wright said.
Only $2.85 million of Graham’s $12.65 million for the 2024-25 season is guaranteed. The Spurs have until July 1 to decide whether to guarantee the full amount.
The Spurs also face Aug. 1 deadlines to decide whether to fully guarantee Champagnie’s $3 million pact for 2024-25 and Bassey’s $2.5 million salary for 2024-25.
Champagnie started 59 games last season as a second-year pro, averaging 6.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.4 assists while shooting 36.5% from 3-point range on 3.7 attempts per game. He is set to turn 23 Saturday.
Bassey averaged nearly 11 minutes, 3.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 0.9 blocks over 19 games before he suffered a season-ending torn ACL early last December while playing in a game for the Spurs’ G League affiliate in Austin.
Bassey, a three-year veteran, turns 24 on Oct. 28.
Collins’ enjoying ‘great’ recovery from surgery
Forward/center Zach Collins’ recovery from surgery to repair the torn labrum in his right shoulder that he suffered in the season finale has been free of complications, Wright said.
“He’s doing great,” Wright said. “He’s working hard every day. Obviously, it was unfortunate, but you guys know Zach. He’s a hard worker and he’s been there before. He’s super competitive, so he attacks his rehab like he attacks the game, so he’s doing really well.”
Collins, 26, played in 69 games in 2023-24, averaging 11.2 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists. He shot a disappointing 32.0% from beyond the arc on 2.6 attempts after connecting on 37.4% on 2.3 tries in 2022-23.
Stephon Castle, right, shakes poses for photos with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being drafted fourth overall by the San Antonio Spurs during the first round of the NBA Draft at Barclays Center on Wednesday in New York.
Stephon Castle reacts after being drafted fourth overall by the San Antonio Spurs during the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on Wednesday in the Brooklyn borough of New York City.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 26: Stephon Castle reacts after being drafted fourth overall by the San Antonio Spurs during the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 26, 2024 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
The overhead screen shows the Spurs selection of UConn guard Stephon Castle as the #4 pick at the watch party for the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft outside the Victory Capital Performance Center on Wednesday, June 26, 2024.
Fans celebrate after the Spurs selection of UConn guard Stephon Castle with the #4 pcik at the watch party outside the Victory Capital Performance Center for the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft on Wednesday, June 26, 2024.
Stephon Castle, right, shakes hands with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being drafted fourth overall by the San Antonio Spurs during the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on Wednesday in New York City.
Stephon Castle celebrates with former Connecticut teammate Donovan Clingan after being drafted fourth overall by the San Antonio Spurs during the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on Wednesday in New York.
By Tom Orsborn, Staff writer, via San Antonio Express-News