Dylan Harper perfectly illustrates why he’s the future of the Spurs

Even though expectations were high for second overall pick Dylan Harper, even the most optimistic San Antonio Spurs fan couldn't have foreseen just how well he's played thus far. In his first nine games in the NBA, he is averaging 13.4 points and 3.4 assists while shooting 50.5% from the field in just 21.3 minutes per game.

Had he not missed time with a calf injury, he could have a much stronger case for Rookie of the Year. Instead, he will have to settle for being the fourth-best player on a great Spurs team as a rookie.

What's so impressive with Harper right out of the gate is how poised he has looked thus far. He plays completely under control and has no problem navigating pick and rolls and effortlessly gets to the rim.

Dylan Harper is already brimming with superstar potential

Against the Minnesota Timberwolves, who have a top 10 defense and one of the best defensive players in NBA history in Rudy Gobert, Harper looked unfazed. He finished at the rim six times in just 23 minutes. He even attacked Gobert several times and got the best of him.

That isn't just one game for Harper; he is currently shooting a ridiculous 70% at the rim, on 4.4 attempts per game. In fact, De'Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle are also shooting over 70% at the rim as well, giving San Antonio a trio of elite slashers.

Obviously that comes in handy with San Antonio being able to generate high-percentage shots whenever they want by having Fox, Castle, and Harper attack the paint. Harper, in particular, being able to do so off the bench means San Antonio is able to have a reliable source of offense on the floor at all times.

The Spurs must find more minutes for Dylan Harper ASAP

With the Spurs having so many injuries, they have yet to have a full rotation. That has been both good and bad. Good in the sense that players such as Harper and Julian Champagnie have played more than they otherwise would have. Bad in the sense that both players could soon see their minutes slashed.

For Harper especially, that cannot happen with him already being a positive off the bench. Having him play only behind Fox would cap his playing time to around 16 minutes per game.

That means that he will have to play some at shooting guard, which would eat into other players' minutes if the Spurs experiment more with 3-guard lineups. We have yet to see the trio of Fox, Harper, and Castle share the floor, and it seems to be only a matter of time.

That lineup is crucial to the team's long-term success by utilizing all three players at the same time. Whether it works is a big question mark, but Harper's play has warranted more playing time, with him already showing flashes of being both an elite passer and an elite slasher.

San Antonio should do everything they can to put him on the floor in hopes that he can quickly emerge as the team's third star behind Victor Wembanyama and Fox.