Dylan Harper’s evolution will determine Spurs’ championship fate

For a third straight year, the San Antonio Spurs appear to have struck gold in the NBA Draft. First they landed Victor Wembanyama, then Stephon Castle, and now Dylan Harper.

With the Spurs also having star De'Aaron Fox, they have an embarrassment of riches with Harper essentially being a fourth option. Having a number two overall pick be a fourth option is unprecedented and gives San Antonio a huge competitive advantage.

Harper gives the Spurs a wild card with him averaging an impressive 11 points and 3.8 assists in 22.1 minutes per game. He has a talent for taking over games with his ability to get to the rim and finish in the paint. It's not a coincidence that San Antonio struggled when Harper struggled in January.

But with him back playing well, San Antonio is riding high on an 11-game win streak. Harper has been key to this success with his efficiency and knack for attacking the basket.

Dylan Harper’s development may determine Spurs’ title window

Not only that, but San Antonio appears to play much better when he's on the floor, given his elite playmaking ability and him taking care of the ball. He leads the team in assist-to-turnover ratio and has the highest net rating of the Spurs' point guard trio.

With Harper being a big net positive when he's on the floor, San Antonio has the deepest and most talented guard rotation in the NBA. If De'Aaron Fox is having an off game, Castle and Harper can pick up the slack.

And if Castle is playing poorly, Fox and Harper can ball out. But what if all three are playing well in addition to Wembanyama? That spells trouble for other teams, with San Antonio being able to keep their foot on the gas pedal.

They have a varied offensive attack that should be hard to stop come playoff time. We're seeing that now, during San Antonio's 11-game win streak.

Dylan Harper is the key to unlocking the Spurs' title window

Devin Vassell and Julian Champagnie are shooting lights out of late. Meanwhile, Harper's strong play was recently rewarded with Coach Mitch Johnson's allowing him to close out the Toronto Raptors game. It's clear that Johnson's faith in Harper is growing, and his minutes have increased as a result.

During their win streak, he's posting an impressive 12.5 points and 4.9 assists in 25 minutes per game. Harper's also shooting an eye-popping 55.4% from the field.

The more Harper, the better for the Spurs. He is a massive difference-maker off the bench. Better still, he's just scratching the surface of his potential. With him getting better every game, he could level up and be even better come playoff time.

Having a key rotation player dramatically improve in season is rare, but it's possible this season with Harper. If he levels up ahead of the playoffs, San Antonio's chances of winning a championship this season go from good to great.