Spurs' backcourt situation creates turbulent second year for Dylan Harper

Dylan Harper's rookie season was one for the ages. While he didn't take home a ton of hardware, he left fans stunned with an impressive postseason performance. It made for one of the most unique first years in recent memory, but his second season could be even more interesting. Of any player on the Spurs' roster, his role could see the most fluctuation.

Harper was one of the most talked-about players of the 2026 NBA Playoffs, and for good reason. He was so impressive off the bench that it became apparent San Antonio needed to feature him more in the offense. There were too many nights where he looked like their most consistent, reliable source of scoring yet didn't close out in late-game situations.

The reason for that was obvious: the Spurs have a logjam at the guard spots between him, De'Aaron Fox, and Stephon Castle. It definitely has its upside, but there are still some kinks to work out. There are plenty of possible solutions, and Harper should prepare himself for whatever San Antonio decides to do.

What if the Spurs trade De'Aaron Fox?

Even though the Spurs made it clear they're not trading De'Aaron Fox this summer, that doesn't mean they won't consider doing it in the future. There's a world where he plays well early in the regular season, allowing San Antonio to sell high on him around the deadline and clear up that backcourt jam.

This could immediately thrust Harper into a starting role. We won't need to wait years to see him produce All-Star-caliber numbers; that would become a reality if San Antonio decides to go down that path next season.

The great thing about Harper is that he's more than ready to take on a role of that magnitude. At just 20 years old, he was an important part of San Antonio's unforgettable playoff run, using his speed and size to create easy offense for them. This wouldn't be some young player stepping into an unfamiliar position; he's already proven he's prepared for starter responsibilities.

The Spurs could end up not trading Fox at all

The other reality is simple: the Spurs hold on to De'Aaron Fox for the entire season. In that case, a few things could happen. For one, Harper would hold his role coming off the bench but still see a jump in minutes. At this point, it almost seems like a disservice to the Spurs' offense if Mitch Johnson doesn't at least give him more time on the floor.

The worst-case scenario is Harper playing the same role as he did last season, where he stuck around the low 20s in minutes per game. Sure, he can do well in that situation, but it would be underwhelming for such a highly skilled player to get boxed in once again.

It's a wide spectrum for Dylan. He can either step into a full-time starting position if the Spurs decide to move Fox or continue to shine off the bench. Regardless of what happens, he's more than ready to play the role San Antonio needs him to. That versatility is what makes him so impressive early in his career.

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