SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - JUNE 03: Dylan Harper #2 of the San Antonio Spurs reacts during the second quarter against the New York Knicks in Game One of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center on June 03, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Rookie guard Dylan Harper was excellent for the San Antonio Spurs throughout the playoffs, and especially in the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs. In that series, Harper was arguably San Antonio’s second-best player behind star center Victor Wembanyama.
As a result, there has been some serious speculation that Harper would be elevated to a starting spot in the Spurs’ rotation next season, but it doesn’t sound like that will be the case.
Dylan Harper Expected to Come off the Bench for San Antonio Spurs Next Season
Dylan Harper
GettySAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – JUNE 13: Dylan Harper #2 of the San Antonio Spurs dribbles against the New York Knicks during the second quarter in Game Five of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center on June 13, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
According to Jared Weiss of The Athletic, Harper is likely to remain in a reserve role next season as the Spurs don’t plan to trade starting guard De’Aaron Fox over the offseason. Fox signed a four-year, $229 deal with the Spurs last summer.
“There is also an understanding, according to those sources, that Fox is not tradeable on his contract at the moment, and rehabbing his value with a good playoff performance next season will be crucial to an inevitable backcourt succession plan. Castle is locked in as a starter, and though the three guards closed games together on occasion, it’s unlikely the Spurs would start all of them unless one of them becomes a knockdown shooter,” Weiss wrote.
“So while Harper showed enough flashes last season to eventually become a starter, it probably won’t happen next season unless Fox is willing to come off the bench. . . . It’s part of why people familiar with Harper’s thinking, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe team dynamics, acknowledge that he could have to take on a sixth-man role next season.”
This story will be updated.