Colin

Castleton

Toronto continues to stagger availability for its starters, and IQ and Poeltl will be the next men up to ride the bench against the Nets. The pair sat out Sunday’s matchup with San Antonio and were replaced in the starting five by Jamal Shead and Colin Castleton. Shead and Castleton may be in line for another start, but Shead is the only player worth streaming.

Castleton continued his dominant Summer League run in this game with another big time performance. He owned the paint on Sunday and recorded his first double-double of the summer. Castleton went undrafted out of Florida, but he joined the Lakers on a two-way deal. His play so far probably won’t earn him NBA minutes this season, but he is showing that he belongs in the league.

Castleton, who also played well in the Lakers’ loss to the Spurs on Wednesday, was just as impactful on Friday. While the 6-foot-11 center did his job as a finisher, rebounder, and defender, he was also responsible for a team-high six assists. Castleton has proven to be a solid secondary playmaker, displaying the ability to make plays either as the roll man or out of the post. Like Max Christie, he faces a tough battle for rotation minutes due to the number of signings the Lakers made early in free agency. Castleton’s short-term fantasy prospects may not be great, but he’s someone who could develop into a contributor down the line.

Castleton, who started and played 33 minutes, is on a two-way contract. With that being the case, locking down a rotation spot once the season begins will be a difficult task for the rookie. However, the defensive mobility and rim protection were on full display on Wednesday, and he also played well in his summer debut on Monday. Castleton is unlikely to be a fantasy asset this upcoming season, but he’s a big who’s worth tracking for the future.