Player The restricted-age video store section of Dylan Harper

I think people underestimate or forget just how young Flagg is. Kid didn't turn 19 until a couple months ago and he's averaging ~20/7/5/1/1. I think he's been about as impressive as you could realistically expect for someone of his age in his rookie year.

By the way, this also applies to Harper and is part of why I'm so damn excited about the future of this team. Harper might not be as young as Flagg (he's almost a full year older, which is crazy) but he's still quite young for a rookie and guards traditionally have a steeper learning curve coming into the NBA. The fact that he's barely 20 years old and already a clear net positive impact player showing flashes of stardom is insane.

Hell, that goes for Castle/Wemby too (them being so impressive for their ages) :st-lol: We have 3 guys who are already so damn good yet likely nowhere near their potential yet. Trying not to get too ahead of myself but just imagine what this core could look like in 3-4 years when these guys start to get closer to their primes.
 
Flagg has been far more capable offensively than I expected this early in his career which is awesome. I actually expected him to be more dynamic defensively, he has been a mild disappointment on that side of the ball so far. Perhaps that is due to the bigger focus on offense or maybe the scouts over-hyped his potential there. His excitement as a prospect was built on him potentially being an elite 2-way guy, should be interesting to see if that comes to fruition.

I figured his rookie year would in the 16/6/4 with hopefully 3 stocks/game. The Mavs tanking pivot did inflate his numbers a bit (like Castles last year). I didn't expect (but I should've) the Mavs would pull cord on the season so quickly but that opening night destruction at the hands of our guys really was a herald for things to come.
 
Are people really that high on Flagg's ball-handling specifically so as to compare him with Tatum? That's surprising - he's looked more "fluid for a big" than plain fluid when I've watched him, kind of like Wemby's handle is. Not an indictment per-se, obviously, but I think it sells Tatum's game very short and overshadows how reliant he is on his dribble moves to be effective, beyond his size.

I'd still trade Harper for Flagg, but only considering the Spurs' roster composition, Castle's future stardom, etc. I'm also lower than most on the age factor, though - I like the consideration that "years in the league" is a better predictor of a player's growth curve than simply age. In all people across the board, athletes or not, it's quite evident that age is "just a number" (:st-no:) and quite a lousy indicator of a person's maturity, growth potential, and future output when you consider the actual individual.
 
Harper is so smart, so unflappable. If he keeps this level of play up, Mitch is going to have to play him even more. I don't think they have trotted out the Fox/Harper/Castle lineup much at all....but maybe give it a few more shots with these last few games and see how it runs (??)
 
blueguy said:
Harper is so smart, so unflappable. If he keeps this level of play up, Mitch is going to have to play him even more. I don't think they have trotted out the Fox/Harper/Castle lineup much at all....but maybe give it a few more shots with these last few games and see how it runs (??)
Click to expand...
Nice wrinkle the Spurs ran with Harper sitting back to the basket at the free throw line in the middle of Miami's zone and facilitating from there. That could develop into something good.
 
Right now Harper is 31.4% from 3 (48/153), 33.13% (53/160) if we count the NBA cup final. Quite an improvement considering he was at 25% for a big chunk of the season. Coupled with Castle's 31.8% (68/214) and considering their progression, it's hard not to get super excited looking forward. Probably another historic, dynastic big 3 if they continue to grow.
 
I don’t know how long we’ll be able to keep the three of Fox, Castle and Harper… but I hope it’s a long time (with all 3 playing at a high level, I mean) because the diversification it provides along with the 48 minutes of high level ball handling and playmaking… it’s really a huge advantage.

Even though this is a superstar league, outside of that I think there is a lot to be said about having multiple high level/borderline stars instead of just one player who is in that tier between where Fox and Castle are and where a guy like SGA is. I guess that is the Brunson/Booker/Cade/Maxey tier? Each of those guys is probably better than each of our 3 guys… but I would much rather have our trio. Teams become overly reliant on that next tier of player, and when they have an off night they are basically fucked. To the contrary, if one of our guys has an off night, we just roll on to the other two.

The same is similarly true of our wings (though they aren’t quite to the level of our guard trio). Depth and diversification is the key to this squad (outside of Wemby, of course).
 
scott said:
I don’t know how long we’ll be able to keep the three of Fox, Castle and Harper… but I hope it’s a long time (with all 3 playing at a high level, I mean) because the diversification it provides along with the 48 minutes of high level ball handling and playmaking… it’s really a huge advantage.

Even though this is a superstar league, outside of that I think there is a lot to be said about having multiple high level/borderline stars instead of just one player who is in that tier between where Fox and Castle are and where a guy like SGA is. I guess that is the Brunson/Booker/Cade/Maxey tier? Each of those guys is probably better than each of our 3 guys… but I would much rather have our trio. Teams become overly reliant on that next tier of player, and when they have an off night they are basically fucked. To the contrary, if one of our guys has an off night, we just roll on to the other two.

The same is similarly true of our wings (though they aren’t quite to the level of our guard trio). Depth and diversification is the key to this squad (outside of Wemby, of course).
Click to expand...
I think the composite of Fox/Castle/Harper is better than having only one of those guys as Wemby's sidekick. I actually think it's not even close. The variety of styles and multi-layered roles our trio bring together pose bigger matchup issues for other teams than any one single Top 8-12 player in the league. I'm not even sure we would better off if we swap all three with someone like Ant who is in the Top 5-7 range.
 
Fox really 500 iq’d his way into the best possible situation for himself:

-ditched the Kangz
-got his max
-back home in TX with no state tax
-splits usage/minutes with 2 other young, dynamic pg’s which will reduce his wear and tear
-attached himself to an ascending Wemby

Fox has clearly adjusted his game (less drives, more selective about hitting the jets) with longevity in mind and sharing lead ball handling duties with Castle and Harper will help that even more not to mention make us more dangerous.
 
Last edited:
dn0774 said:
Fox really 500 iq’d his way into the possible situation for himself:

-ditched the Kangz
-got his max
-back home in TX with no state tax
-splits usage/minutes with 2 other young, dynamic pg’s which will reduce his wear and tear
-attached himself to an ascending Wemby

Fox has clearly adjusted his game (less drives, more selective about hitting the jets) with longevity in mind and sharing lead ball handling duties with Castle and Harper will help that even more not to mention make us more dangerous.
Click to expand...
One of the shrewdest career moves in the NBA the past 15-20 years. Sometimes you need to know when to get out. AD did the right thing with the Pelicans, same for KG with the T-Wolves.
 
Ariel said:
Right now Harper is 31.4% from 3 (48/153), 33.13% (53/160) if we count the NBA cup final. Quite an improvement considering he was at 25% for a big chunk of the season. Coupled with Castle's 31.8% (68/214) and considering their progression, it's hard not to get super excited looking forward. Probably another historic, dynastic big 3 if they continue to grow.
Click to expand...
Harper is rounding towards his college 3p numbers when he finished with 33.3% (with a good C and S%). I think next season he will lift it to 35%. As would Castle.
 
scott said:
I don’t know how long we’ll be able to keep the three of Fox, Castle and Harper… but I hope it’s a long time (with all 3 playing at a high level, I mean) because the diversification it provides along with the 48 minutes of high level ball handling and playmaking… it’s really a huge advantage.

Even though this is a superstar league, outside of that I think there is a lot to be said about having multiple high level/borderline stars instead of just one player who is in that tier between where Fox and Castle are and where a guy like SGA is. I guess that is the Brunson/Booker/Cade/Maxey tier? Each of those guys is probably better than each of our 3 guys… but I would much rather have our trio. Teams become overly reliant on that next tier of player, and when they have an off night they are basically fucked. To the contrary, if one of our guys has an off night, we just roll on to the other two.

The same is similarly true of our wings (though they aren’t quite to the level of our guard trio). Depth and diversification is the key to this squad (outside of Wemby, of course).
Click to expand...
100%. With having multiple threats, it really becomes near impossible to shut everything down. You’re almost just hoping the Spurs go cold or make enough self-forced errors to lose.

Wemby demands an absurd amount of attention and it’s a given that teams will focus on stopping him. That already reduces the amount of attention that someone like Fox will draw…but then now you put Castle out there too and what do you do? You can’t double team 3 guys at once.

Toss in Harper and the point you made about having 48 minutes of borderline elite ball-handling and offense creation, so you get no respite and it gets even harder to stop these guys because they’re going up against your 2nd unit for stretches.

Then to top it off, all of these guys are respectable (or better) defenders. It’s not like any of them are ever going to be hunted on the other end and forced to get out of the game. Because they’re generally not being asked to control the offense all on their own possession after possession, it frees up energy to exert on defense and wear down other teams on that end too.
 
SpursFan86 said:
100%. With having multiple threats, it really becomes near impossible to shut everything down. You’re almost just hoping the Spurs go cold or make enough self-forced errors to lose.

Wemby demands an absurd amount of attention and it’s a given that teams will focus on stopping him. That already reduces the amount of attention that someone like Fox will draw…but then now you put Castle out there too and what do you do? You can’t double team 3 guys at once.

Toss in Harper and the point you made about having 48 minutes of borderline elite ball-handling and offense creation, so you get no respite and it gets even harder to stop these guys because they’re going up against your 2nd unit for stretches.

Then to top it off, all of these guys are respectable (or better) defenders. It’s not like any of them are ever going to be hunted on the other end and forced to get out of the game. Because they’re generally not being asked to control the offense all on their own possession after possession, it frees up energy to exert on defense and wear down other teams on that end too.
Click to expand...

And they’re just going to get better and better, and the core at only early 20’s, expect this for the next 10-15 years
 
The three of them together doesn't really hurt defense wise either. Castle can guard bigger players and so can Harper to some extent. Harper's defense is really solid. He's a very intelligent defender
 
As I said during the game, if our young guys continue developing on their current trajectories and we keep this rotation without even adding anyone, by 27-28 season Spurs will be the biggest favorite to win the championship since KD Warriors.
 
BSfromTX said:
The three of them together doesn't really hurt defense wise either. Castle can guard bigger players and so can Harper to some extent. Harper's defense is really solid. He's a very intelligent defender
Click to expand...
I haven't read all this thread, but I know you can't be the first to notice, either. I thought Harper would be a 'mid' to 'good' defender but I didn't expect him to be *this* good, especially as a rookie. I mean, he's a huge plus defense. Not Castle caliber but really freaking good. What a bonus. His size and IQ seem to really make an impact.
 
Is KOC still doing his troglodyte "I bEt ThE sPuRs WiShEd ThEy HaD tAkEn KoN" thing? :st-lol:
 
scott said:
Is KOC still doing his troglodyte "I bEt ThE sPuRs WiShEd ThEy HaD tAkEn KoN" thing? :st-lol:
Click to expand...
Yes. He legitimately keeps doubling/tripling down on it lol.

Dumbass was pushing the "Spurs have too many guards and it won't work out!" narrative all offseason. They've now crushed all expectations and are on the verge of winning 60 games, but he's still sitting around talking about how he thinks they'd go back and change their draft decision.

It's not even about Kon. Kon is a fantastic player and he'd fit in great with this team. It's just weird how KOC has seemingly been rooting against this team to work for 6+ months.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

scott
Everything will be okay.
2 3 4
Replies
83
Views
2K
mudyez
mudyez
LeBowen
  • Poll Poll
Analysis The 10 upcoming games
2
Replies
39
Views
1K
siraulo22
S
spurraider21
Nothing will be okay
2 3 4
Replies
90
Views
3K
Mugen
Mugen
scott
Analysis GRADES: 3/19/26 Spurs 101 v Suns 100 [SPURS CLINCH PLAYOFF BERTH]
Replies
0
Views
77
scott
scott
Guru of Nothing
Player Ron Harper Sr Has Something To Say
Replies
6
Views
533
spursparker9
spursparker9
Back
Top