Dylan Harper and the Legacy of the Quantity Two General Decide

For those who’re not first, you’re second—however don’t sleep on the quantity twos. For each LeBron James, Mick Jagger, James T. Kirk, Han Solo, Jean-Luc Picard, Thelma, Bert, Calvin, Danny Ocean, and Lilo; there’s a Keith Richards, a Spock, a Chewbacca, a William Riker, a Louise, an Ernie, a Rusty Ryan, and a Sew. Who’s Liz Lemon with out Jenna Maroney? What if Calvin is a figment of Hobbe’s creativeness? And take into account that Captain Picard refers to Commander Riker as “Quantity One” not “My bearded, promiscuous second-in-command.”

This thought train is just not meant to pit ones in opposition to twos. If the San Antonio Spurs might have drafted Cooper Flagg, the primary consensus prospect on this yr’s draft, they actually would have. However by all accounts, they have been all in on Dylan Harper. No headlining story of them buying and selling down or critically contemplating one other participant ever took traction. It was as near a certain factor for the Spurs as taking Victor Wembanyama, Tim Duncan, and David Robinson.

For the entire Spurs’ vaunted historical past and monitor file of success, they’ve by no means had the quantity two general decide in any draft. Take that into context, the Spurs (famously) have had three primary general draft picks, whereas NBA groups just like the Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers, Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Warmth, Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder, Phoenix Suns, and the Utah Jazz have by no means had the primary general decide.

In fact, it’s what you do with that decide that issues, and the Spurs in-arguably have achieved properly with the primary general. By drafting Dylan Harper on Wednesday evening with the quantity two general decide, they now have the possibility so as to add to their distinctive legacy. For those who’re questioning which groups have had essentially the most primary general picks, I’ll prevent a Google search and let you know it’s the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Washington Wizards with six apiece.

So earlier than Harper even units foot on an NBA court docket, all we will do is speculate and undertaking what sort of profession he might need. He’s not anticipated to be a franchise savior, which is actually a very good factor for his growth and psychological well being. It additionally helps tremendously that he goes to a crew recognized for fostering younger expertise and setting them as much as succeed on the participant’s tempo whereas additionally maximizing their skills.

The historical past of the quantity two general decide is strong. In recent-ish reminiscence, a number of the most impactful gamers have been LaMarcus Aldridge (2006), Kevin Durant (2007), Ja Morant (2019), and Chet Holmgren (2022). Dig deeper into NBA previous and also you’ll discover hall-of-famers and all-stars like Isiah Thomas (1981), Gary Payton (1990), Alonzo Mourning (1992), Jason Kidd (1994), and Steve Francis (1999).

Loads of quantity two picks fell wanting expectations. Darko Milicic (2003) had the misfortune of sharing a draft class with LeBron James (1), Carmelo Anthony (3), Chris Bosh (4), Dwyane Wade (5), and Boris Diaw (21)—the best French Spur ever behind Wembanyama and Tony Parker, with no disrespect to Ian Mahinmi, Nando De Colo, and Joffrey Lauvergne. Milicic’s potential was both by no means there or had the possibility to develop in the fitting atmosphere given Larry Brown’s penchant for not giving important minutes to rookies and younger gamers, particularly when the veteran-laden Detroit Pistons of the early 2000s have been perennial title contenders.

Jay Williams’s (2002) profession is a case research of what might have been after his tragic motorbike accident that robbed him of probably being the subsequent Chicago Bull star after Michael Jordan. Staying with the Bulls, Tyson Chandler (2002) was the quantity two general decide as a part of an entire overhaul of the post-Jordan Bulls together with Eddy Curry (2002), who additionally went quantity 4 general in the identical draft class. Chandler wouldn’t grow to be a franchise savior or celebrity, however he had an extended, profitable profession as a defensive anchor and lob companion for the memorable Dallas Mavericks championship crew in 2011 that toppled the Miami Warmth.

Probably the most scrutinized quantity two decide was Sam Bowie (1984), solely as a result of the most effective basketball participant in historical past (however mentioned participant’s current feedback about his personal legacy in comparison with LeBron James) was drafted quantity three general and went on to make the most effective Gatorade and McDonald’s commercials ever. Bowie, sadly, is the prime instance of “draft the most effective participant obtainable” moderately than “draft for want.” The Portland Path Blazers had an important guard in Clyde Drexler, however handed on Michael Jeffrey Jordan as a result of that they had a necessity at middle. The remaining, as you understand, is historical past. And had the Path Blazers taken Jordan as an alternative, we’d have a butterfly impact rippling by the multiverse the place our model of Earth is vastly totally different: there can be no Chicago Bulls dynasty, no Ron Harper (father of Dylan Harper!) cameos in The Final Dance with the banging soundtrack of Prince injected straight into our nostalgic veins. On this timeline, there can be no Shawn Bradley (additionally a quantity two general decide in 1993), who had an important position in House Jam (creator’s observe: I personal a Shawn Bradley jersey so I’m obligated to say that anytime the Stormin’ Mormon’s identify is talked about).

It bodes properly for the Spurs that they drafted the most effective obtainable participant over roster want. All of that is to say that that doesn’t imply Dylan Harper is the subsequent Gary Payton or Jason Kidd, nor does that imply he’s on a profession trajectory of Victor Oladipo or Evan Turner. But when he turns into a taller/longer wing-spanned model of Steve Francis, the sky’s the restrict. You gained’t should look on the web very lengthy to see some participant comps to Deron Williams and Cade Cunningham, the latter’s identify being thrown round sufficient instances from totally different sports activities web sites to make your common fan ignore the potential group suppose and salivate on the potentialities. Realistically, Harper is not going to have the offensive or franchise-level obligations that Cunningham has, however that ceiling potential is tantalizing nonetheless.

The Spurs’ monitor historical past of hitting on their lottery picks means that they’ll determine it out, even when naysayers say there’s too many guards who can’t shoot on the crew. If Dylan Harper pans out, then he might be the most effective factor since Sean Elliott (drafted third general in 1989), and a 3rd straight rookie-of-the-year is certainly on the desk.

Positive, that’s overly (virtually haphazardly) optimistic, however as Captain Picard mentioned, “Make it so.”—not, “Effectively . . . let’s maintain our horses and be cautiously optimistic.”