This past offseason, the single best move the San Antonio Spurs made was extending Victor Wembanyama. The young superstar opted to take a maximum contract instead of a "supermax," saving the team up to $50 million.

With Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper owed extensions of their own in the next two summers, every penny saved is valuable. In addition to those three young Spurs, San Antonio will have to consider Carter Bryant, Keldon Johnson, and Devin Vassell, who are all also on a similar timeline. 

Any other team in the league would throw a maximum conbtract Castle's way. In just two seasons, he's emerged as one of the best perimeter defenders in the league and an excellent asset on offense. However, the Spurs have to balance more than just one star.

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We saw it this summer. Jalen Duren believes he is the second-best player on the Detroit Pistons and wants to be paid as such. Of course, Detroit values Ausar Thompson more than their center, although Duren managed to swindle the Motor City out of $200 million.

To some players, chasing a bag is worth more than competing for titles and giving your team the tools to build a competitive roster. So far, Castle has said all the right things about wanting to win and not having an ego, but once money is on the table, his tune might change.

"Castle is a tremendous passer, great physical defender, unbelievable in transition," listed Sam Vecenie on the Game Theory Podcast. "It's just figuring out what the future holds for this group because they get expensive starting as soon as next season, when they have to decide whether they want to pay Stephon Castle or not."

In the first year of his extension, Wembanyama will be the 40th highest-paid player in the NBA. Over the five seasons he's signed to, it's hard to see him ever being a top-ten highest-paid player in the league. Extensions and new contracts will be dolled out, passing him up.

Castle won't be one of them. The Spurs already believe that Harper is the second-best player on the roster. Castle, clearly, is the third-best in town. Other third options like Aaron Gordon, Mikal Bridges, and Immanuel Quickley are all making roughly $30 million a season.  Castle, despite having a higher ceiling than those guys, will likely get a similar offer. 

Now, the Spurs have the advantage of giving him a starting spot on a title-worthy team, which does come with some status. In recent seasons, guys like Duren and Jonathan Kuminga have asked for more than they're worth. Duren got his. Kuminga is still looking for a major, long-term payday.

Hopefully, Castle and the Spurs can reach an agreement. Playing next to Wembanyama comes with plenty of advantages, although if he balls out this year and takes his game to the next level, he could drive a hard bargain.