Dylan Harper is sneakily one of the Spurs’ most important pieces already

Dylan Harper was an absolute blessing to the Spurs franchise. San Antonio was lucky to snag him via a gift from the gods in the draft lottery. While he is uber-talented, many expected he wouldn't form much of a role as a rookie point guard coming off the bench on a contending team. Well, that idea can be completely thrown out the window.

If there was any indication that Harper was next up, his evolution in less than a year's time should be that. The rookie has stepped into a complementary position and taken full advantage of it. Everything about this kid has Spurs fans' ears perking up. Most importantly, D. Harp will be more than effective in the playoffs this year and for years to come.

Dylan Harper is impacting winning off the bench

Unlike some of his fellow draft mates and those leading the pack in the Rookie of the Year race, Dylan Harper started his career on the bench. With two elite-level guards already rostered, the rookie wouldn't have a clear path to starting for a while. Fortunately for the Spurs, the youngster was more than okay with that.

Following the loss of Chris Paul in the offseason, the Spurs were without a true floor general on the bench. The unit needed someone to handle the rock and facilitate the ball to the other playmakers in the group. Then came Dylan Harper.

While the Rutgers alumni started slow, he has really found his footing as of late. All of a sudden, the man not known for his long ball is splashing threes and continuing to highlight his immense talent as a finisher. But most importantly for the Spurs, Dylan is commanding the second unit.

Once De'Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle finish their stretch of dominance, the defense isn't allowed any break when Harper enters the floor. Just like his leaders, the rookie is playmaking at a supreme level and bringing peace to the bench offense. He is looking like a true veteran out there.

The Spurs need Dylan Harper to maintain success

You would think that the pair of guards and Victor Wembanyama are the most valuable Spurs, and they certainly are, but Dylan Harper is not far behind. With what he is doing right now, San Antonio can't afford to lose him for any stretch of time, so hopefully, his right calf contusion won't sideline him for long.

In the modern NBA, depth is so important. The Spurs' electric starting five can only stay on the floor for so long, and they need someone to come in and keep the momentum rolling. That is exactly what Harper is doing.

The second overall pick allows the Spurs to keep the pedal to the metal for the entire 48 minutes and gives the starting guards as much of a break as they need. Harper has single-handedly erased any worries of a stagnant offense.

Dylan Harper is the key to keeping the Spurs afloat when things get rough. Mitch Johnson can always count on him to come in and make things happen when the team needs it the most. Plus, when he's hot, he may play extended minutes and leave his impact even further.

You can't talk about the Spurs' success without mentioning D. Harp. I can't wait to see what he does in the playoffs and how he blossoms with a full year under his belt. The Silver and Black are extremely lucky to have him.