In the NBA Draft Lottery, the Spurs may have missed out on Cooper Flagg, but what they got instead will be just as good, if not better.
Rutgers point guard Dylan Harper has the potential to be one of the best guards in the NBA. With his perfect NBA build, dynamic finishing, and deep bag of moves, the sky is the limit for the young prospect.
The perfect NBA guard
With the Scarlet Knights in the 2024-25 season, Harper averaged a whopping 19.4 points, 4.0 assists, and 4.6 rebounds per game. Along with another future top 5 pick, Ace Bailey, Harper did the most he could on a weak Rutgers team. Despite missing the NCAA tournament this past spring, Harper captured the attention of the nation - and the Spurs.
At the NBA combine, Harper clocked in at 6'4.5" without shoes with a wingspan of 6'10.5". To pair with these measurements, Harper is a stocky 213 pounds. With this size, Harper has the versatility to matchup against smaller wings in the NBA, which is a welcome sight as he joins a backcourt of De'Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle.
These striking measurables play into Harper's greatest strength: finishing at the rim.
This past season, Harper was electric in the paint, finishing 67.8% of his shots around the rim. With a bevy of ways to score around the basket, he was nearly unstoppable when he got two feet in the paint.
His layup kit features a vast number of selections he can choose from instantly. Whether his defender is big or small, Harper will find a way to complete the play.
Harper has a Kyrie-esque toolbelt of dribble moves to make these plays happen. Whether it is a prolific spin move, a quick first step, or a debilitating jab step, Harper has the complete package. No matter what you throw at him, he can counter and retaliate with something better.
An athletic freak, Harper has charged up speed and can get downhill in an instant. Does this remind you of someone else on the Spurs? You guessed it, paired with De'Aaron Fox, nobody is gonna be able to catch up with this duo in transition. They will run all over opposing defenses and wear them out by the time the fourth quarter rolls around. The Spurs will not be a fun team to play against.
While much of the excitement is drawn from his finishing and flashy moves, Harper excels as a playmaker. He had no trouble finding his open teammates and used his extra attention to his advantage. Most intriguing, the potential coupling of Harper and Wembanyama will be a nightmare.
Harper was prolific in the pick-and-roll last season, and that was without a serious big man threat. He is a great decision maker, choosing to set up his roll man, driving to the rim, or pulling up. Inserting Wembanyama, the options will only increase. Even for a rookie, finding and hitting Wembanyama will be easy.
Harper will look great in Black and Silver
On the Spurs, Harper won't always have the ball, but that is totally okay. He shot 36.8% on catch-and-shoot threes in 2024-25 and reads the floor well to get open. With vision and speed, he is terrific at cutting down the baseline and should get plenty of looks playing off of Fox and Castle.
As so much attention is drawn to Harper because of his offensive skill set, this will create advantageous looks for the rest of the group.
Defensively, both Harper and Castle have wing flexibility, and don't forget that none other than Victor Wembanyama will be waiting if they get beaten. Harper is by no means perfect in this regard, but with intense effort and athletic traits through the roof, he will be just fine.
There is no need to worry about Harper's fit on the Spurs. He will have all the time in the world to improve his average jump shooting and find his place as an NBA player. A strong synergy will be built between the three-man backcourt, settling any issues around who will handle the rock.
Get excited, Spurs fans, this absolute gem should be suiting up for the Black and Silver next season.