Spurs Likely to Keep No. 2 NBA Draft Pick to Select Dylan Harper, Rival Execs Predict

The San Antonio Spurs had the good fortune of moving up to No. 2 in the lottery, but they do not necessarily have the easiest decision to make due to their existing roster composition. Dylan Harper is considered the consensus second best player in the 2025 NBA draft behind Cooper Flagg and on a tier of his own, but he would represent positional overlap with De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle.

Harper, Fox and Castle are three very different types of players, but all three are arguably at their best as lead guards. The trio could figure out to play with each other, but it could take a few years to truly maximize, which is a question of whether the Spurs would be patient enough to allow that development to happen. The Spurs project to be a on a similar financial model as the Oklahoma City Thunder with a star guard on a maximum contract surrounded by multiple young stars on rookie deals.

Despite the concerns, the most likely outcome for the Spurs is to stay at No. 2 and select Harper with the confidence that the talent play ultimately leads to the best outcome.

“Most of the sources I talk to around the league think the most likely outcome is that the Spurs do just that: Stand pat and pick at No. 2,” writes Sam Vecenie at The Athletic.

But the Spurs have been strongly connected to a trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo and their ability to make the best offer for him has undoubtedly improved now that they are in possession of the second overall pick.

“If the Spurs paired Giannis and Wemby, they would be the favorite to win the title next year,” said one Eastern Conference executive, who was granted anonymity in exchange for his candor. “They’d have two guys who might be top-five players in the league next year on the same team. Plus, they fit. They’d have a dominant defense that no one would be able to score against inside, and they’d have the ability to play five-out in an even more devastating way than the Bucks did with Brook Lopez if they surrounded Giannis and Wemby with the right wings.”

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May 16, 2025 | 12:30 pm