Player The restricted-age video store section of Dylan Harper

[couchman]

Unless someone shits the bed in the playoffs or suffers a major injury, I fully expect us to run back most of the roster, SL, and rotations in ‘26-‘27, with Harper largely off the bench.
We either chip and run it back trying to repeat or we fall short and we gain the experience needed to do better next season. Either way, we probably run it back.
‘27-‘28 is when I see the Harper starter question being something we may need to address to ensure he is happy here, to encourage his development, and with an eye toward moving someone to ease growing team salary (Wemby, Keldon, and Champagnie are in line for new deals that season and Castle the year after that.)

 

[kxs783]

If Harper continues improving at his current rate and spacing isn't an issue, we can do whatever.
Harper+Bryant as SF/PF will undoubtedly be better than Devin+Champ if we're talking defense as soon as the next season.


Fox got the max extension the moment he got traded to the Spurs, for all intents and purposes and that take is exactly why I get annoyed.
Anyone thinking that not extending, let alone trading Fox would've been something Spurs would even consider is being completely unrealistic and talking whataboutism.
Business sense? Fuck over an all-star that forced his way to your team for a massive discount price and you're never getting anyone relevant to join you ever again, Wemby or not.
Fox being overpaid by like 5% of the cap does way less "damage" to the Spurs than not extending him would've done.

Not to mention Harper and Castle always talk about how much Fox has helped them.
Don't get me wrong, I'm in the wait for the playoffs camp and if someone doesn't deliver in neither 2026 nor 2027 playoffs, he has to go.

And there lies my point. The Spurs loyalty to players. Especially star players. I personally think Fox can have an atrocious playoffs and the Spurs still won't trade or bench him next year because of their history of loyalty towards their players, no matter what fans want. I'm sorry, I just don't see Fox going anywhere soon. Which is why I believe Harper has to play the SF/PF position to start. I definitely could be wrong but yeah, we'll have to wait and see.

 

[kxs783]

Unless someone shits the bed in the playoffs or suffers a major injury, I fully expect us to run back most of the roster, SL, and rotations in ‘26-‘27, with Harper largely off the bench.
We either chip and run it back trying to repeat or we fall short and we gain the experience needed to do better next season. Either way, we probably run it back.
‘27-‘28 is when I see the Harper starter question being something we may need to address to ensure he is happy here, to encourage his development, and with an eye toward moving someone to ease growing team salary (Wemby, Keldon, and Champagnie are in line for new deals that season and Castle the year after that.)

I agree with this take.

 

[LeBowen]

Yeah, it's a given that Spurs won't change much unless something is a huge issue in these playoffs.
26-27 will be the first season with serious contending aspirations and whoever fails next year will probably be moved.

 

[SpursFan86]

I’d say there’s like a 70ish percent chance Harper comes off the bench for most of next year.

Then that drops to maybe 10% for the 2027-2028 season. I just really don’t envision many scenarios where he’s not starting in year 3.

By year 4 there’s not a chance in hell he’s not starting

 

[Exstatic]

All I'm saying is the Spurs signed Fox to a max extension AFTER having Harper. They had the perfect opportunity to get off of him if they wanted to. This is for all of the people saying Fox will be traded or benched next year because of Harper. That doesn't make much business or common sense for the organization to do. That was my whole point in this.

We got him cheaply from Sacto, because he agreed to only allow a trade to us, tanking his value, in return for a MAX deal. Reneging on that because of fortuitous circumstances is the opposite of what the Spurs do,and would blackball them with every reputable agency. It’s not a big deal to honor that agreement, and trade him after 3.5 years, in the summer of 2028.

 

[Exstatic]

And there lies my point. The Spurs loyalty to players. Especially star players. I personally think Fox can have an atrocious playoffs and the Spurs still won't trade or bench him next year because of their history of loyalty towards their players, no matter what fans want. I'm sorry, I just don't see Fox going anywhere soon. Which is why I believe Harper has to play the SF/PF position to start. I definitely could be wrong but yeah, we'll have to wait and see.

Fans don’t run the team. Spurs are loyal to players. If you can’t accept those two absolute certainties, you will be a very unhappy person.

 

[Exstatic]

Yeah, it's a given that Spurs won't change much unless something is a huge issue in these playoffs.
26-27 will be the first season with serious contending aspirations and whoever fails next year will probably be moved.

I think HB gets a cheap deal, but is bumped into the Bismack role in favor of CB going into the regular rotation.

 

[Mugen]

I think HB gets a cheap deal, but is bumped into the Bismack role in favor of CB going into the regular rotation.

Would be great but I think he'll have suitors that will give him one last "decent" deal that is higher than what you and I consider cheap tbh.

 

[BSfromTX]

Harper shooting has been amazing. He will start next year. Defense of the 1 through 3 is really just a zone, but if you really want to go by position, Fox defends the 1, Harper the 2, and Castle the 3.
Champ or CB starts at the 4 unless we make a trade.

Harper is a stud. He could be an all star next year. All he needs is the minutes. His three shot and defense is way better than I ever thought it could be. He won't come off the bench next year.

 

[scott]

Sorry, but you're out of your mind if you think Harper is going to still be coming off the bench in 3 or 4 years. Are we watching the same player?

So tell me who's getting replaced? My point exactly. You guys thinking a MAX player is coming off the bench as a 6th man or is getting traded after year 1, have to be the most delusional people ever lol. My God.

Oh for sure we'll be looking to move on from Fox around that time. But these guys are talking about trading or moving him to the bench next season and that ain't happening.

Hmmmmm, I think I see the disconnect here.

 

[spurraider21]

Unless someone shits the bed in the playoffs or suffers a major injury, I fully expect us to run back most of the roster, SL, and rotations in ‘26-‘27, with Harper largely off the bench.
We either chip and run it back trying to repeat or we fall short and we gain the experience needed to do better next season. Either way, we probably run it back.
‘27-‘28 is when I see the Harper starter question being something we may need to address to ensure he is happy here, to encourage his development, and with an eye toward moving someone to ease growing team salary (Wemby, Keldon, and Champagnie are in line for new deals that season and Castle the year after that.)

yep, this is why many think trading our FRP for future flexibility is a likely outcome, particularly with CB primed to take a leap and take on more of those PF and small-ball C minutes.

our pending FA's are: Harrison Barnes, Kelly Olynyk, Bismack Biyombo, Jordan McLaughlin, Lindy Waters, and Mason Plumlee. the only rotation player there is Barnes, and CB should be able to absorb most of those minutes, and thats assuming we dont bring HB back cheap. i think having McLaughlin back would be nice as well but the rest are non-factors in the rotation, so we dont have any major holes to plug

and if we did want to pick up an additional rotation player, we have the full MLE and even the BAE at our disposal

 

[spurraider21]

i think the plausible timeline here is Fox gets moved when Castle's extension kicks in, which means we would still have 2 more full seasons of Fox, and he gets moved around the 2028 offseason

its fair to ask what his value will be at that point. he'd be 30 years old with 2 years left on his deal at 57 and 60 mil

if the numbers work out where they can keep him until Harper/Bryant eventual extensions, then they can move him the following offseason as an expiring deal. i dont think thats particularly likely though

 

[scott]

i think the plausible timeline here is Fox gets moved when Castle's extension kicks in, which means we would still have 2 more full seasons of Fox, and he gets moved around the 2028 offseason

This seems the most likely scenario to me as well, with two very notable variables that could significantly change the dynamics of how things shake out around that time:

1. Expansion Draft. We don't know what rules will be in play for this yet, likely to happen in the summer of 2028.
2. CBA Opt Out in the Summer of 2029. I fully expect both the PA and the league to want to opt out a year early... if the Spurs are rolling with chips they may just figure they'll bit the bullet in 2028-29 and see how it shakes out the year after. I suspect the aprons are going to get less restrictive in a new CBA.

 

[Mugen]

I think Fox might have more value with 2 years left on his deal than on an expiring. Though i could certainly see the argument for the opposite given how much he's making per year tbh.

 

[Exstatic]

This seems the most likely scenario to me as well, with two very notable variables that could significantly change the dynamics of how things shake out around that time:

1. Expansion Draft. We don't know what rules will be in play for this yet, likely to happen in the summer of 2028.
2. CBA Opt Out in the Summer of 2029. I fully expect both the PA and the league to want to opt out a year early... if the Spurs are rolling with chips they may just figure they'll bit the bullet in 2028-29 and see how it shakes out the year after. I suspect the aprons are going to get less restrictive in a new CBA.

What I would hope for is a strict second apron, but a higher above tax %%.

Honestly, if they kept things exactly the same, and shortened the games to 40 minutes, we would go on a Bulls style run in a world where Wemby can play 80% of the minutes (32/40) and no one else can build a super team.

 

[scott]

What I would hope for is a strict second apron, but a higher above tax %%.

Honestly, if they kept things exactly the same, and shortened the games to 40 minutes, we would go on a Bulls style run in a world where Wemby can play 80% of the minutes (32/40) and no one else can build a super team.

Everyone is entitled their own opinions... mine is that I hate it. I like the strategic decisions that 48 minutes (and 82 games, for that matter) forces. Shorter games or shorter seasons rewards top heavy teams with imbalanced roster constructions.

I like the suggestion of just adding 2 or 3 more weeks to the regular season to spread those 82 games further apart.

 

[spurraider21]

Everyone is entitled their own opinions... mine is that I hate it. I like the strategic decisions that 48 minutes (and 82 games, for that matter) forces. Shorter games or shorter seasons rewards top heavy teams with imbalanced roster constructions.

I like the suggestion of just adding 2 or 3 more weeks to the regular season to spread those 82 games further apart.

its either this or cutting games played down to about 70

or if you want to get spicy, keep the current slate of 82 games, but no individual player can play more than 70 games. forced rest, so depth matters even more

 

[SpursFan86]

Hmmmmm, I think I see the disconnect here.

I mean, this was his post he originally made that I responded to

Yep. Harper just has to get use to this role for the next 3 or 4 years because I can't see him overtaking anyone in the starting lineup unless the use him at SF/PF. He's clearly better than Devin but the loyalty from the Spurs organization isn't going to sit him unless his shooting just completely falls off a cliff.

 

[scott]

its either this or cutting games played down to about 70

I can't foresee the league or the PA giving up 12 games worth of revenue... and I'm thankful for that because selfishly I don't want less games... I like watching games, even the ones Wemby sits! Every single Spurs game this season has been worth watching, IMO, and I hope that never changes personally.

 

[John B]

I know it’s blasphemy to say Harper coming off the bench on his 2nd year. But that’s the correct lineup with him continuing the helm. And the Spurs will have continued facilitator every time. Devin has fitted perfectly as a shooter and compliments perfectly in the SL. Why put him to the bench and disrupt the synergy? Harper is fine and will get his chance. As long as they’re winning. Everybody’s checking out their ego.

 

[John B]

If you b2b, no way you dont keep the core and try a 3peat tbh.



Damn we’re already talking about b2bs and 3peats

Finally

 

[DaSlicer]

Harper has a ceiling of a franchise player. It is BS spurs using him as bench player lmao. He cant show his full potential playing off bench. Some spurs fans think spurs made a mistake by picking harper. They should’ve pick Kon over harper. Fit wise.

Even fit wise I like Harper better than Kon. Harper allows the Spurs to have 3 guards that are creators in himself, Fox, Castle which make it's very hard to defend the Spurs' offense and the defense never gets any breaks because one of them will always be on the court.

I definitely like Harper better than Kon and would always pick Harper over him since I feel his ceiling is much higher than Kon's ceiling. Kon's game to me is a combination of Jeff Hornacek/Dan Majerle while Harper's game to me is combination of Kyrie/Harden.

 

[DAF86]

If Harper continues improving at his current rate and spacing isn't an issue, we can do whatever.
Harper+Bryant as SF/PF will undoubtedly be better than Devin+Champ if we're talking defense as soon as the next season.

Defense sure. The offense I think would suffer. Not enough dynamic 3pt shooting.

 

[scott]

its either this or cutting games played down to about 70

or if you want to get spicy, keep the current slate of 82 games, but no individual player can play more than 70 games. forced rest, so depth matters even more

Hey that's kind of fun....