Future Spur: Dylan Harper

[scottspurs]

I think his ceiling potential is James Harden who was the league’s leading scorer for several years and won an MVP. I think his median is Cade Cunningham. A guy who will make several all-star games maybe a few All-NBA teams. His Floor is Tony Parker like player that only makes a few all-star games because he goes under the radar on a great team. Great player but under appreciated. The only way he busts is if he gets injured and loses his confidence when he comes back like Markele Fultz did or if the goes full Josh Primo on us. Seems like a good kid but makes some stupid mistakes kind of thing.

[scottspurs]

I think his ceiling potential is James Harden who was the league’s leading scorer for several years and won an MVP. I think his median is Cade Cunningham. A guy who will make several all-star games maybe a few All-NBA teams. His Floor is Tony Parker like player that only makes a few all-star games because he goes under the radar on a great team. Great player but under appreciated. The only way he busts is if he gets injured and loses his confidence when he comes back like Markele Fultz did or if the goes full Josh Primo on us. Seems like a good kid but makes some stupid mistakes kind of thing.

[scott]

Hypothetical question:

Who is the WORST player you would trade #2 overall for?

Let's say you can package whatever salary filler you need to for 1 player on his current contract / expected future contract. No additional picks, swaps, etc. Everybody trades for Jokic, Luka, Anthony Edwards, etc but who's the worst player that you'd do this for?

My gut says maybe Jalen Williams? Would anybody do JJJ or Franz? Amen Thompson? I'm probably not doing Scottie Barnes or worse.

***Ignore what the other team wants, I'm just trying to gauge how highly people here value Dylan Harper's potential/median outcome

Going by the Ringer Top 100, it’s probably Amen or Franz. And there are plenty of guys ranked higher than those two who I would not accept.

[Ditty]

Hypothetical question:

Who is the WORST player you would trade #2 overall for?

Let's say you can package whatever salary filler you need to for 1 player on his current contract / expected future contract. No additional picks, swaps, etc. Everybody trades for Jokic, Luka, Anthony Edwards, etc but who's the worst player that you'd do this for?

My gut says maybe Jalen Williams? Would anybody do JJJ or Franz? Amen Thompson? I'm probably not doing Scottie Barnes or worse.

***Ignore what the other team wants, I'm just trying to gauge how highly people here value Dylan Harper's potential/median outcome

Amen Thompson for me. Wemby and him would be an absolute terror on defense together. If Amen ever develops a jump shot…GG’s for the rest of the league.

[Pauleta14]

I think his ceiling potential is James Harden who was the league’s leading scorer for several years and won an MVP. I think his median is Cade Cunningham. A guy who will make several all-star games maybe a few All-NBA teams. His Floor is Tony Parker like player that only makes a few all-star games because he goes under the radar on a great team. Great player but under appreciated. The only way he busts is if he gets injured and loses his confidence when he comes back like Markele Fultz did or if the goes full Josh Primo on us. Seems like a good kid but makes some stupid mistakes kind of thing.

That's a HOF floor

He's way more gifted than TP, but we don't know much about his mental, his willingness to do sacrifices etc Tony was a psychopath and endured stuff that 99% wouldn't be able to.

THOSE traits are what make a great player and why the draft will always be a gamble

[ace3g]

[scottspurs]

That's a HOF floor

He's way more gifted than TP, but we don't know much about his mental, his willingness to do sacrifices etc Tony was a psychopath and endured stuff that 99% wouldn't be able to.

THOSE traits are what make a great player and why the draft will always be a gamble

Harper is that good. His tape is special. Measurables are special. His ceiling is high and his floor is high. I wouldn’t say can’t miss because we don’t know what is going on between the ears but in media interviews he comes across as a good kid that gets it.

[RC_Drunkford]

There's like a 90% chance he becomes an All-Star caliber player, just by his skillset and who his parents are. Safest pick at #2 in the entire draft.

[John B]

It would be ing insane not to draft or trade this kid to Brooklyn as suggested by someone on another thread. Harper could compete for the number one option. Certainly an alpha dog. When I watched that Jordan Brand Classic, he took that best player knowing everybody’s expecting Flagg. The question is if he’s willing to fall behind Wemby?? Unlike Shaq, Wemby is a consummate player who pushes himself to get better. I understood Kobe doing 200% preparation then finds Shaq 20 lbs overweight comes opening day. Is Harper okay under the shadow of Wemby? Is he a willing passer? Or too much of a Jordan? I always like Magic more than Jordan because of Magic’s conscious effort to make people around him better. He didn’t need to take the last shot if he could pass to a player who has a better shot. Kobe and Jordan would take the shot even with 3 players on them. Yes there was the Kerr shot that won the championship but that was more an exception. 9/10 Jordan would prefer to take the shot.

I’ve known Castle as someone of a team-first. I still don’t know Harper that well. Parker “eventually” learned to defer to David and Timmy. Because growing up, he always thought himself the best player. He was a score-first PG when he came to San Antonio but Pop barked, cussed and molded him to be the best teammate that he became. But come 2007 Finals, he didn’t have problem taking the Finals MVP from Timmy. How will the chemistry be between Harper and Castle, with both having similar game? That was the problem with Westbrook and Durant (and maybe Harden had he stayed). Without Pop’s credentials, how will Mitch massage the egos not to mention Fox to co-exist?

[Ice009]

There's like a 90% chance he becomes an All-Star caliber player, just by his skillset and who his parents are. Safest pick at #2 in the entire draft.

Are the Spurs like 95% likely to take the number 2 pick? I really hope they're not looking to trade it. What are you hearing on that front?

It would be ing insane not to draft or trade this kid to Brooklyn as suggested by someone on another thread. Harper could compete for the number one option. Certainly an alpha dog. When I watched that Jordan Brand Classic, he took that best player knowing everybody’s expecting Flagg. The question is if he’s willing to fall behind Wemby?? Unlike Shaq, Wemby is a consummate player who pushes himself to get better. I understood Kobe doing 200% preparation then finds Shaq 20 lbs overweight comes opening day. Is Harper okay under the shadow of Wemby? Is he a willing passer? Or too much of a Jordan? I always like Magic more than Jordan because of Magic’s conscious effort to make people around him better. He didn’t need to take the last shot if he could pass to a player who has a better shot. Kobe and Jordan would take the shot even with 3 players on them. Yes there was the Kerr shot that won the championship but that was more an exception. 9/10 Jordan would prefer to take the shot.

I’ve known Castle as someone of a team-first. I still don’t know Harper that well. Parker “eventually” learned to defer to David and Timmy. Because growing up, he always thought himself the best player. He was a score-first PG when he came to San Antonio but Pop barked, cussed and molded him to be the best teammate that he became. But come 2007 Finals, he didn’t have problem taking the Finals MVP from Timmy. How will the chemistry be between Harper and Castle, with both having similar game? That was the problem with Westbrook and Durant (and maybe Harden had he stayed). Without Pop’s credentials, how will Mitch massage the egos not to mention Fox to co-exist?

Great points you've bought up. We don't really know his personality yet. another interesting thing you've mentioned is KD and Westrook and Harden. I am certain the reason he left OKC was because of Westbrook basically competing with him for the Alpha spot. If I was in the Spurs' pitch meeting with Durant in 2016, I would have been hammering the point home about getting away from Westbrook. I would have been saying stuff like you won't get that in SA, you're going to get team player and the goal is to win. I feel that Durant was playing/shooting well in the OKC Vs Warriors series, but Westrbook chucked them out of it after they got the 3-1 lead (I think it was a 3-1 lead?).

Maybe getting Durant could also really help the young guys (not just Victor). Maybe he could have a talk with all the young guys and tell them what happened in OKC, and tell them not to repeat the mistakes they made. Not to let ego get in the way. If he shares his OKC experience, that could make a big difference to helping mold these guys so it doesn't end up like it did in the Durant, Westbrook, Harden OKC era.

[exstatic]

Are the Spurs like 95% likely to take the number 2 pick? I really hope they're not looking to trade it. What are you hearing on that front?



Great points you've bought up. We don't really know his personality yet. another interesting thing you've mentioned is KD and Westrook and Harden. I am certain the reason he left OKC was because of Westbrook basically competing with him for the Alpha spot. If I was in the Spurs' pitch meeting with Durant in 2016, I would have been hammering the point home about getting away from Westbrook. I would have been saying stuff like you won't get that in SA, you're going to get team player and the goal is to win. I feel that Durant was playing/shooting well in the OKC Vs Warriors series, but Westrbook chucked them out of it after they got the 3-1 lead (I think it was a 3-1 lead?).

Maybe getting Durant could also really help the young guys (not just Victor). Maybe he could have a talk with all the young guys and tell them what happened in OKC, and tell them not to repeat the mistakes they made. Not to let ego get in the way. If he shares his OKC experience, that could make a big difference to helping mold these guys so it doesn't end up like it did in the Durant, Westbrook, Harden OKC era.

That’s not even remotely true. He left because the cheap ass owner wouldn’t pay even $1 of luxury tax. There was a difference of somewhere between 1 and 2 million per year on his second contract that the owner wouldn’t pay, so they traded Harden over that.

[Ice009]

I was talking about Westbrook competing with KD for the alpha spot well after Harden left. The Harden thing, I was thinking he could tell them if you have something special, don't break it up over a few million. Of course, in the OKC case it was the owner that did that and not the player.
KD should have been getting the ball more in those last three games against the Warriors, but Westbrook chucked up shots and made questionable plays like he always does. I don't think Durant was happy to keep playing with him IMO. I know that is the way he plays, but he's never been as good of a shooter as KD and never will be. He should have gotten KD the ball more and taken a back seat on offense a bit and concentrated on defense more.

[Pauleta14]

Harper is that good. His tape is special. Measurables are special. His ceiling is high and his floor is high. I wouldn’t say can’t miss because we don’t know what is going on between the ears but in media interviews he comes across as a good kid that gets it.

He's also my choice and I'm not being pessimistic, just rational

I've learned that interviews or tapes are just a tiny tip of the iceberg and so many aspects of a player's game or character can change his trajectory. I wish for ex to have watched Harper against a more compe ive opposition or in a system more team oriented like Castle had at Uconn that was a huge plus for me last season for ex.

Looking back at past draft mistakes can be quite impressive and funny

[John B]

I think Harper would have a chip on his shoulder coming in, proving himself better than Flagg. He will gun that ROTY and I’m just hoping that Mitch would give him a chance. But Spurs are notoriously stubborn with “get-over-yourself” mantra, and might rub the wrong way to some players. And I don’t know Ron Sr perception of Wemby, if Dylan is listening to his dad. Some of these old school NBA players are hard-core on “tough players” of yesteryears, and not very keen on 7 footers taking 15 3’s a night. Is it okay for an alpha dog like Dylan to be a 4th option at best? How would it affect his chances of getting ROTY if ever? Good problem for Mitch and Co. I can’t wait what opening day roster and starting line up would be.

[rjv]

it's been said before that dylan is more in tune with his mother than his pops. there are interviews out there where Harper basically says as much.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JcZ4KgYd4I

[Ice009]

I wonder if his mom would move out to SA with him (hopefully the Spurs do draft him). Not sure what her coaching credentials are (I think I read she's an assistant coach somewhere). Could she possibly get a job as an assistant on the G-League team?

[John B]

I can't wait for Castle and Harper going at it at practice

[Mr. Body]

One thing he really has going for him at this age is how hard it is to tell what he's doing. Defenders read by position and movement of who they're guarding and Harper manages to be really hard to figure out. This is why his defenders are always getting out of position or misreading him; his counters are excellent and he reads their movements really well, there's a ton of instinct combined with skill.

[poopbox]

Hypothetical question:

Who is the WORST player you would trade #2 overall for?

Let's say you can package whatever salary filler you need to for 1 player on his current contract / expected future contract. No additional picks, swaps, etc. Everybody trades for Jokic, Luka, Anthony Edwards, etc but who's the worst player that you'd do this for?

Easily Chet. Having 2 young 7 footers who can grow into 3 level scorers would be the dream because their just aren't many, if any, teams who have a front court that can defend it.

I'd trade every pick we have except for 2 this year and castle for chet no questions. I'd send Dr Strange into the multiverse to collect picks from the Spurs in other timelines to bring them back to trade for Chet.

My gut says maybe Jalen Williams? Would anybody do JJJ or Franz? Amen Thompson? I'm probably not doing Scottie Barnes or worse.

***Ignore what the other team wants, I'm just trying to gauge how highly people here value Dylan Harper's potential/median outcome

[John B]

At this point, I'm not even trading #2 for no-defense Luka

[Spurs Brazil]

[R. DeMurre]

Hypothetical question:

Who is the WORST player you would trade #2 overall for?

Let's say you can package whatever salary filler you need to for 1 player on his current contract / expected future contract. No additional picks, swaps, etc. Everybody trades for Jokic, Luka, Anthony Edwards, etc but who's the worst player that you'd do this for?

My gut says maybe Jalen Williams? Would anybody do JJJ or Franz? Amen Thompson? I'm probably not doing Scottie Barnes or worse.

***Ignore what the other team wants, I'm just trying to gauge how highly people here value Dylan Harper's potential/median outcome

Evan Mobley for sure. Here’s a question: would you do #2 + #14 for Barnes & Quickley, knowing there’s also a side deal available of Fox for Trey Murphy lll + future FRP?

[LeBowen]

Evan Mobley for sure. Here’s a question: would you do #2 + #14 for Barnes & Quickley, knowing there’s also a side deal available of Fox for Trey Murphy lll + future FRP?

No chance, both are overpaid and don't fit the roster.

Since Giannis won't get traded, #2 should be untouchable.
We're talking about a player who looks to be the textbook example of a future all-star guard, has no fundamental flaws and is a perfect long-term fit.
I'm not trading that pick for players who won't ever be on that level.

[rascal]

No chance, both are overpaid and don't fit the roster.

Since Giannis won't get traded, #2 should be untouchable.
We're talking about a player who looks to be the textbook example of a future all-star guard, has no fundamental flaws and is a perfect long-term fit.
I'm not trading that pick for players who won't ever be on that level.

Yes

It's getting to a point people are just bored now and thinking up all sorts of trades. The draft can't come soon enough.

[scottspurs]

“If Dylan Harper ends up with the Spurs, it’s only because they were unable to move the pick (or him). I have zero doubt about that.” - Sam Amico just now on twitter lol

Between him and KOC the salty clowns are coming out to play