Dylan Harper almost guaranteed to race past Cooper Flagg where it matters most

While we can't exactly predict what a player is going to be based on Summer League games, one thing was made obvious in Dylan Harper and Cooper Flagg's first meeting: these guys are extremely talented. The sky's the limit individually for both of them, but Harper has an advantage that Flagg doesn't have the luxury of flaunting. He's in a stronger organization with the ultimate talent beside him.

Don't let the detractors on social media fool you; the Spurs are still a top-tier organization. San Antonio went on a two-decade-long run of greatness and was set up for more of it before a monkey wrench named Kawhi Leonard was thrown into their plans. Had Klaw never demanded a trade and maintained health, SA would have continued to reign as the class of the Western Conference.

Being forced to trade Leonard forced them to make an adjustment they never intended to make, and because of that, they stumbled. After realizing that trying to piece together a new plan on the fly with DeMar DeRozan as the centerpiece was headed nowhere, they smartly hit the reset button. Now, they're poised to reemerge like Emperor Palpatine in Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker, except the fans will be happy about it this time.

All Harper has to do is his part and the Spurs will do the rest

Harper hadn't played ball in months and nursed a groin injury before making his Summer League debut. When he took the court, it was understood that he'd be on a minutes restriction. You have to protect your investment. But he looked more than ready to hoop when the ball tipped off.

He finished the game with 16 points, and he looked much more comfortable in his first game back in action than many thought. His jump shot wasn't falling, but it looked smooth, and he was confident in it. The rookie from Rutgers added six rebounds, two assists, and two steals to his day, but his block in transition stole the show.

Carter Bryant has already been working on establishing himself as a defensive nightmare for his opponents. Even Flagg struggled when tasked with making something happen with Bryant in his face. But Harper is just getting on the court, so he's just beginning to establish himself. He did so on both ends, showing that he's not just a one-trick pony. The kid is here to compete, and he carries himself like a winner.

San Antonio will do the hard part of putting the right guys around the new core of Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle, Harper, and Bryant. All the young guys have to do is put in the work, and they'll all end up having better careers than their counterparts. It is written.