Atlanta does this because they have a real frontcourt depth problem. Porziņģis missing time is expected, not a risk, and Okongwu cannot be the only playable center behind him without the team bleeding points in non-KP minutes. Castleton isn’t a long-term solution, but he’s a cheap, serviceable backup who can soak up regular and season minutes, set screens, rebound, and protect the rim enough to keep lineups functional. Giving up Caleb Houstan, who isn’t part of Atlanta’s rotation, plus a low-value second-round pick is a reasonable cost to stabilize a thin position.

Orlando does this because Castleton is expendable and doesn’t factor into their long-term plans, while Houstan directly addresses a shooting need. Calling Houstan “great” is a stretch, but he is a reliable spot-up threat who fits Orlando’s offense better than a third-string center, especially with their frontcourt already crowded. The added 2026 second-round pick is the real incentive — it’s cheap future flexibility, either as a dart throw or trade filler — making this a sensible value-for-fit move rather than a talent bet.