Lost in the San Antonio Spurs' recent struggles has been the play of one Dylan Harper. Dylan Harper, the second overall pick, was great right out of the gate for the Spurs, but Harper struggled mightily in December.
Unfortunately, he didn't exactly bounce back in January, averaging just 9.4 points with a 51.8 true shooting percentage—well below league average. His struggles coincided with Devin Vassell's absence, Harrison Barnes' shooting woes, and Victor Wembanyama being on a minutes restriction.
That shows that his problems were likely spacing-related, with San Antonio having a hellish shooting stretch there in January. Vassell is now back, and Julian Champagnie has replaced Barnes in the starting five, and Wembanyama is no longer on a minutes restriction.
Still, San Antonio hasn't quite solved their spacing issues just yet. San Antonio continues to rank 23rd in 3-point percentage and has recently struggled at the free throw line.
Harper has contributed to their shooting woes, connecting on just 24.8% from three and 73.7% from the line. This has raised concerns about Harper's long-term fit.
Dylan Harper's awful shooting is a problem plaguing the Spurs
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Harper recently had back-to-back strong games against the Charlotte Hornets and Orlando Magic. He looked confident shooting from both mid-range and outside and connected on a combined six jumpers en route to scoring 20 and 16 points, respectively.
When that shot is falling, Harper is dynamic, especially with proper spacing. The Spurs didn't have Stephon Castle against the Magic, preventing coach Mitch Johnson from pairing Harper with him.
That pairing has been a problem, particularly if Luke Kornet is also on the floor. Having three non-shooters is a no-go. The same goes for a backcourt that can't shoot.
That is likely why Johnson has been hesitant to play Fox, Harper, and Castle together. It also raises concerns about the trio's ability to start and play big minutes together.
Harper's 3-point shooting is a super star swing skill
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Even despite Harper's clearly questionable shooting, he is still a high-level prospect. His ability to get downhill and finish at the rim is elite, especially for a teenager. He also displays terrific court vision and is already a passable defender.
He even played well in big games, including dropping in 21 points against the New York Knicks in the NBA Cup Finals. All that bodes well for his development, and he could very well be a multi-time All-Star when it's all said and done.
Of course, with the Silver and Black also having Fox and Castle, having only one of those three be able to shoot is a big problem. After all, it could force San Antonio to only play two at a time going forward. That might not be such a big problem now with Devin Vassell and Keldon Johnson playing on the wing.
But, as San Antonio becomes more expensive, those players could soon be gone, and the team will need to start three of their best players. If Harper doesn't develop into a capable shooter, then that alone isn't a death knell to him becoming a star. However, him being paired with other non-shooters could be.