Spurs' insider hints that Dylan Harper's sophomore leap may already be underway

The Spurs are officially back in the gym, and one of the biggest questions surrounding the team is just how much Dylan Harper has improved since his impressive rookie campaign. We may already have a small clue, as ESPN's Michael C. Wright gave fans a particularly intriguing update:

Wright didn't specify exactly what he's hearing, leaving plenty of room for us to wonder about what the second-year guard has added to his game over the offseason. There are a few obvious areas where progress could make a major difference, though.

That's about as subtle as an insider update gets, but there's plenty of reason to pay attention when someone with Wright's Spurs connections says he's hearing positive things about Dylan's progress.

Harper is poised for a great sophomore season

Dylan averaged 12 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 steal in the regular season and 14/6/3/1 in the playoffs. The raw numbers on their own are encouraging enough, but when you factor in his rookie status and his 50%+ efficiency, it becomes pretty damn ridiculous.

Harp's play was so stellar that he currently sits at the front of the line for the best odds to win Sixth Man of the Year this year, tied with OKC's Ajay Mitchell, according to DraftKings.

He's also leading the field as the favorite to win Most Improved Player. That one seems a little far-fetched, considering his status as a top-2 pick in his draft and a skill level already higher than many of his peers. That award should be for guys nobody really saw coming. Harper doesn't fall into that category.

The next step is obvious for Harper

Despite already having a well-rounded toolbox, there's still plenty of room to grow. Some of it is natural strength-building that will happen as time passes, but the rest is mostly about consistency. The shifty playmaker is already incredibly polished as a finisher, and his pull-up game from inside the arc is pretty ridiculous at 50% FG.

His three-point ability, whether it be on catch-and-shoots or pull-ups, leaves much to be desired. Spacing is too important in the NBA to ignore, so improving from range should be one of the biggest priorities.

Harper can also improve his playmaking abilities. He's such a dynamic driver and finisher; his confidence to score on anyone in front of him is sky-high. He's skilled enough to make many of those, but it can be better to pass the ball sometimes. Getting guys involved keeps them engaged and makes the opponent defend the entire floor at all times.

Other than those areas, I won't pretend last summer's No. 2 overall draft pick has a ton to add to his game. He defends and rebounds well already, so the Spurs' sophomore guard just needs to continue doing those things while he elevates his offensive bag and workload.

The foundation for greatness is already there: a better three-point shot, improved playmaking decisions, and developing the consistency to bring A+ effort to every possession on both sides make Harper a star. If Wright is hearing good things about that progress before training camp has begun, Spurs fans have every reason to be excited.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow