Spurs go versatile, land Rutgers' Harper at No. 2

Having selected back-to-back NBA Rookie of the Year winners implicit the past 2 drafts, the San Antonio Spurs anticipation to person a 3rd consecutive successful Rutgers defender Dylan Harper, whom they selected with the No. 2 wide prime successful Wednesday's NBA draft.

The enactment marks the Spurs' 3rd consecutive draught successful the apical four, pursuing Stephon Castle, the 2025 Rookie of the Year whom the Spurs took 4th wide past year, and 2024 apical rookie Victor Wembanyama, who was the No. 1 prime successful 2023.

The summation of Harper, wide considered 1 of the elite defender prospects of this year's class, mightiness look redundant successful San Antonio due to the fact that of Castle and caller constituent defender De'Aaron Fox. But Harper's versatility fits the mold the Spurs question arsenic they modulation to playing positionless basketball. The team's brass isn't overly acrophobic with drafting for positional needs, believing the players yet make and find their niche wrong the system.

At Rutgers, Harper showcased a knack for creating rim pressure, which volition amended San Antonio's spacing arsenic Wembanyama is already 1 of the elite floor-spacing large men successful the league.

With the caller hiring of assistants Corliss Williamson and subordinate caput manager Sean Sweeney, the Spurs are looking to ratchet up the unit connected a defence anchored by Wembanyama, past season's blocked shots leader. At 6-foot-6, Harper has the magnitude to go 1 of the cardinal cogs successful what could go 1 of the league's astir suffocating units.

The Spurs besides person the No. 14 prime successful this year's draft.