Dylan Harper was impressive in the second half of his rookie season, but that doesn’t mean that Spurs should give him De’Aaron Foxa place in the starting line-up, Jared Weiss of The Athletic states in the mailbag column. Harper, the second overall pick in last year’s draft, played an important role off the bench during the team’s run to the NBA Finals, and Weis cited the perception around the league that he could eventually develop into a top-10 player.
However, that can only happen during regular game time, and Fox has cemented himself as the team’s starting point guard. Fox, 28, who had an All-Star season before an injury limited his effectiveness in the playoffs, signed maximum extension of four years last summer.
Weiss adds that Fox understands the “nuances” of managing a team, a skill that Harper and Castle Stefan not yet developed. He adds that the best move for the coach Mitch Johnson is to keep the lineup as it is now, but close out plays with all three guards on the court more often.
There are more from the Southwest Division:
- During the Las Vegas Summer League, several scouts told Weiss that Harper and Castle are “close to the end” of getting at least 25% of their rookie max extensions when they become eligible (next summer for Castle and 2028 for Harper), and that number could rise if they meet “The rule of rosesHe adds that they are “absolutely not going to be swapped any time soon” as both players are seen as contributors Spurs‘ long-term basis. with Victor Wembanyama is also on a maximum deal, which could lead to some difficult financial decisions when Castle’s expected extension starts in the 2028/29 season. Weiss points out that they will likely exceed the tax limit with only 10 players, but they will be loaded with talent throughout the roster, especially if Carter Bryant is turning into a starting power forward. He adds that the move from Fox will not be a financial necessity for at least the next two years.
- Mavericks a legend Dirk Nowitzki supports the new team president Masai Ujiri in his work on the revival of the organization, trans Christian Clark of The Athletic. Ujiri has been active since taking over the team five months ago, making significant changes to the roster and hiring Dusty May as head coach. “We’re in his corner” Nowitzki said about his old friend. “We all want the Mavericks to get back to where they were. We were a Finals team just a few years ago. There’s a lot of work to do. We’re excited.” Nowitzki also believes “the sky’s the limit” for Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg.
- The Grizzlies will wear a “BC” jersey patch this season in memory of Brandon ClarkWorld Health Organization died In May, the team announced (via Twitter). A pre-game tribute and moment of silence will be held before kickoff on October 21.