Stephon Castle’s ball-handling role has to shrink for Dylan Harper’s leap to happen

A big part of Dylan Harper's second-year leap will be his improvement as an offensive orchestrator. Sure, he has a unique knack for scoring, but can he take on the pressure of leading the San Antonio Spurs on that side of the floor? If Stephon Castle can take on more secondary playmaking duties, it'll give us a glimpse into what Harper's made of.

"But like, who is Dylan Harper when he has to kind of manage the reads and the variables of a game?" Rob Mahoney pondered on The Bill Simmons Podcast. ".... He's very focused, he's very precise in the way he operates. All of that stuff is super valuable to them. But he doesn't have to make the hard decisions that Castle or Fox or Wemby do."

I'd have to agree. For Harper to be the star the basketball world is waiting for him to become, he'll need to prove that he can handle the burden of leading this team's offense. We've already seen flashes of it, but if Castle relinquishes his role as a primary ball-handler, it'll allow the second-year guard to spread his wings even more.

It's time for Harper to unlock the next level of his offensive game

Harper already has an impressive scoring arsenal, using his size, quickness, and athleticism to zoom past defenders and finish at the rim. But if he wants the keys to the Spurs' offense this season, he must do more than put points on the board.

He needs to be a reliable playmaker and set-up guy for this team. He does have great raw passing ability, but reading and breaking defenses down is the next step. Can he manipulate opponents to create opportunities for teammates in big clutch moments? That's exactly what we need to see from him this season.

His developing that skill set will come with some sacrifice from teammates, especially Castle. Last season, he initiated plenty of the Spurs' offense and even led the team in assists. But slotting him into an off-ball role where he acts more as a secondary playmaker will open the door for Harper's big leap.

Castle might just be better in a secondary playmaker role

Mitch Johnson experimented with Castle setting up the Spurs' scoring attack last season, and he did have some amazing moments. But there were also some downsides, especially in the playoffs, where he struggled with turnovers.

So shifting him to handle off-ball duties should be the way to go this season, especially when he shares the court with Harper. They can work in tandem, with Castle cutting or setting ball screens to make plays in the middle of the floor. We saw a bit of that in the Spurs' first preseason game against the Atlanta Hawks.

That seems to be the theme of this team: players unselfishly morphing their game to make way for others. And so far, it's been working. Mitch Johnson can continue this trend by encouraging Castle to excel in an off-ball role so that Harper can shine as the offensive initiator.

Not only will this approach help him make an All-Star leap, but it will also optimize the skill sets of both him and Castle. This will ultimately pay off once the postseason rolls around.

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