Spurs aren't going anywhere without the next Dylan Harper jump

The San Antonio Spurs have a rising superstar in Dylan Harper, who they are no doubt hoping will be the missing piece to their championship puzzle. In fact, Harper gives the Spurs a distinct advantage, one that could help them avenge their NBA Finals loss.

After all, teams that normally fall short in the NBA Finals have few ways to get dramatically better. The Spurs are different, with them being so young.

They are already banking on Stephon Castle being even better in his third season, but Harper has even more room to grow.

He has an extraordinarily high ceiling and is still only scratching the surface of his potential. Harper has already demonstrated his high-level knack for getting to the rim, and his strength and craftiness make him a terrific finisher. But for him to reach the next level, he must prove he can shoot as well as create for others.

The Spurs are counting on Dylan Harper taking the next step this season

San Antonio must play Harper much more than the 22.6 minutes per game he averaged last season to aid his ascent to stardom. He may not start, but he could reasonably play between 28.5 and 30 minutes per game this season.

Based on his per 36-minute performance during last year's regular season and the playoffs, he could easily average around 16.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4 assists per game. That would not only put him in discussion for Sixth Man of the Year but also Most Improved Player as well.

Equally as important, having him play a larger role could supercharge San Antonio's second unit, giving them a massive advantage over rival teams. They already have two All-Stars and a rising star in the starting lineup, but their second unit could use more work.

Especially after the bench unit largely fell flat in the NBA playoffs. Fortunately, Castle taking on a large role combined with Keldon Johnson, Luke Kornet, and possibly Tobias Harris could help propel the Spurs this season.

Dylan Harper should give the Spurs more than enough to win a title

It's almost too easy to compare him to Spurs Hall of Famer Manu Ginobili, but it fits Harper. Ginobili was able to make a massive impact from the bench, and Harper certainly can too. Of course, what sets him apart from the Hall of Famer is that Harper is still on the rise.

Ginobili was in his 30s when he came off the bench and helped San Antonio win a championship in 2007 and 2014. He was still great but wasn't at his peak, whereas Harper is still expanding his game.

He will likely be asked to do more playmaking, something that he wasn't asked to do much of as a rookie. That's not to say that he can't, but he was tasked with scoring, something he's already proven he can do.

His shot is still a work in progress, but over his final 30 games of the regular season, he shot an impressive 46.8% from three on 2.5 3-point attempts per game. If he becomes an above-average shooter, then that would only unlock his star potential.

With San Antonio coming so close to winning a championship last season, it shouldn't take much to push them over the top. If Harper makes a sizeable leap this season, him thriving in a larger role could give San Antonio more than enough to win a championship.

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