Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry is far and away one of the most effective offensive players in the game today. When someone of his stature gives praise, it holds value, and potential No. 2 pick Dylan Harper garnered acclaim from the Warriors star in an interview.
While speaking about Harper and his Rutgers teammate, Ace Bailey, Curry gave the guard his flowers for the intangibles that go beyond talent. He said:
“Those two guys, individually, obviously, they’re super talented, but talent can only take you so far. Like, what’s your mentality about how much better can you get? How hard do you work? Are you coachable? They showed that.”
“Dylan showed that. He was funny because he guarded me in a couple of pickup runs we had. I might not have scored on him. And I think he was mic’d up for something, and I think he knew. He was counting my stats, a little matchup. You love that competitiveness because they’re there to get better.”
The recognition from a star like Curry is bound to do wonders for the Rutgers guard. Harper has been touted as one of the talents to look out for heading into the NBA Draft. By our projections, he is likely to be selected as the second-overall pick by the San Antonio Spurs, leading to a potential three-guard lineup featuring Stephon Castle and De’Aaron Fox.
Although the concept of Harper on the Spurs has garnered a lot of attention, there could be more at play here. This offseason is ramping up to be one of the most intense ones in recent history. With the likelihood of a lot of moves happening the next few weeks leading up to the draft, the Spurs’ No. 2 pick could be a vital trade asset on the move.
Some teams that have shown an interest in the Spurs’ pick include the Boston Celtics, who are rumored to show an inclination to trade Jaylen Brown to acquire the draft pick and young players.
Although some rumors had presented the Milwaukee Bucks‘ interest in trading their star Giannis Antetokounmpo to acquire the pick, recent revelations indicate that no trades for the Bucks forward may take place after all.
Regardless, Harper presents enough talent and potential to be a solid developmental piece for any franchise he is on. Considered to be a crafty guard with terrific finishing ability inside the paint, he has garnered a lot of attention for his offensive and defensive upside.
With an average of 19.4 points, 4.0 assists, and 4.6 rebounds during his time at Rutgers, Harper is truly one of the finest prospects heading into this year’s draft. While his 33.3% shooting from the perimeter is underwhelming in the context of the modern NBA, there is always scope to improve and build upon one’s skillset.
