There was no other option for the San Antonio Spurs at No. 2 in the 2025 NBA Draft but Dylan Harper. It has not panned out as well as they had likely hoped for, though, and it's tough not to imagine what could have been had they selected Kon Knueppel instead.
Let's be clear, though. Harper looks like a future star despite his middling rookie campaign so far. He is still likely viewed as untouchable in trade talks, and rightfully so. He was even on top of the wish list of many Charlotte Hornets fans entering last year's draft.
On the other hand, Knueppel has proven to be a more flexible prospect, displaying the ability to mesh well with his star teammates, LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller. But even though he doesn't have the ball in his hands that much, he has flourished, combining productivity with high-level efficiency. Kon should be the Rookie of the Year favorite, even after Cooper Flagg scored 49 in his face on Thursday.
Who's the better fit for the Spurs?
Some might argue that the reason Harper has not been as prolific as at least a couple of his fellow top draft picks is that he plays the same position as Stephon Castle and De'Aaron Fox. As a result, he had averaged just 10.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game and had shot 44.4 percent from the field and 23.7 percent from three prior to San Antonio's loss to the Hornets on Saturday.
It's worth noting that Harper could very well turn out to be the best player of his draft class. But that's the thing, in the Spurs' point of view, he has been more promise than substance. Given that Victor Wembanyama has already developed into a top-10 player (The Ringer has him fifth in its latest player rankings) and the squad has risen to the second seed in the Western Conference standings, it needs most of its rotation players to live up to expectations.
Interestingly, Knueppel would have probably been a perfect fit with the Spurs' current foundational pieces. His elite shooting, tendency not to overplay, and malleability would have allowed him to produce similar numbers as he has put together now in Charlotte and would have given Wembanyama, Castle, and Fox a potent off-ball threat. But more importantly, the coaching staff would have no need to figure out how to play three lead ball-handlers at the same time.
Harper actually outplayed Knueppel in their early Saturday afternoon matchup. The Spurs guard recorded a team-high 20 points, while Kon scored just 13, although he added six rebounds and four assists. However, Harper was glued to the bench in the final 10:23 of the close contest, as he clearly remains entrenched behind Fox and Castle in the depth chart. Meanwhile, Knueppel had key rebounds down the stretch to help his side secure the 111-106 win.
Evidently, the 2025 draft turned out perfectly for the Hornets. Knueppel has been everything they need and more. It might be too dramatic to describe him as the franchise savior. However, his addition and the availability of the other core pieces have transformed the team into a winner and a potential play-in squad.