Bold Dylan Harper prediction could prove Spurs' process was well worth it

Bleacher Report's Mo Dakhil boldly predicted that Dylan Harper will be one of the five best MVP candidates five years from now. If he were to make this a reality and put together a strong campaign for that award, it would give the Spurs' front office even more confirmation that adding him to their stacked backcourt was well worth it.

While Dylan Harper's career is off to an amazing start, some critics have been skeptical about his current role in San Antonio. There were definitely concerns after the 2026 NBA Finals. He played well on that stage, but his fluctuating role gave many the feeling he was being held back a bit in the Spurs' deep guard rotation.

"...Everybody that's an NBA fan knows the kid is special", Brendan Haywood stated on the UnitedWeCast podcast with Ric Bucher a couple of months ago. "You can't hold him back no more. You've got to take the training wheels off, and that convo has to start as soon as De'Aaron Fox gets back into town."

It's fair to question how things look now. But a Dylan Harper MVP run would confirm that the Spurs were on the right path for his development all along.

Dylan Harper is developing a trait that will make him unstoppable

There's so much to focus on with Dylan Harper's game, but one of the things that sets him apart from his peers the most is his unique versatility.

The second-year guard has already shown an ability to play several roles within an offense. When he's sharing the court with De'Aaron Fox or Stephon Castle, he finds ways to be effective playing off the ball. When they're not on the court, he can seamlessly take on duties as a primary ball-handler and orchestrator.

His knack for blending into whatever role Mitch Johnson needs him to is only going to make him more dangerous in the future. Great players know how to adapt, and we've already seen that from him at such an early stage in his career.

To some, it may seem that coming off the bench and fluctuating between on-and off-ball duties is hindering his development. But that's the wrong way to look at it. Those things will actually mold him into an even more lethal offensive force and could set the table for a future MVP run.

This could all be a part of the Spurs' master plan

The path to being an MVP candidate isn't the same for everyone. Some players become the faces of their franchise by the end of their rookie season, while others may slowly develop into stardom. This is not a one-size-fits-all sort of thing.

That applies to Harper. The Spurs' plan for his development may not look the same as a player like Cooper Flagg, but that doesn't mean he can't reach the same heights as him.

If Dylan can become an MVP-caliber player in the future, San Antonio's front office should feel even more vindicated for their decision to draft him into their stacked backcourt. What seems like an odd path to superstardom now could end up making plenty of sense down the road.

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