On Wednesday night, the San Antonio Spurs added fuel to the speculation that they could soon trade De’Aaron Fox or Stephon Castle, according to one NBA insider.
Although they only won 34 games last season, all signs point to the Spurs being on a big upward swing. The reason is due to having impressive rising stars like Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle, and one-time All-Star De’Aaron Fox. However, in Round 1 of the 2025 NBA Draft, instead of going after an elite forward, they went best player available. And added another high upside talent to the backcourt.
“Harper is a terrific bet as a high-level NBA guard. He ticks nearly every box that you look for in that respect,” The Athletic NBA insider Sam Vecenie wrote about Harper. “Harper created rim pressure at an elite level this year at Rutgers, despite playing in an archaic offense that lacked spacing. He drew fouls regularly and showcased enough vision as a passer that you can buy into him as a primary playmaker.
“Defensively, he’s willing and competitive. He has great size, and you can see him playing up on that end in the biggest moments… He projects as a potential All-Star with an All-NBA ceiling if things break right developmentally. But even if his next few years of development don’t quite hit that level, the floor here is quite high given his creativity with the ball, ability to shoot off of the catch, and size on defense.”
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Are the San Antonio Spurs a lock to make a big trade this year?
Considering how good the Spurs have become at developing talent after having the last two Rookie of the Year winners, there is a strong chance Harper will be an impact player at the next level. But it creates a problem in the backcourt. They now have three skilled ball handlers in Harper, Fox, and Castle next season. And it could be four if they bring back NBA legend Chris Paul.
There have been rumblings about the Spurs making a big trade this offseason. Vecenie’s insider colleague, John Hollinger, added fuel to that possibility with his thoughts on the team drafting Harper.
“Harper’s selection presents a crowd in the backcourt with last year’s Rookie of the Year, Stephon Castle, and the recently acquired former All-Star De’Aaron Fox. That may eventually force the Spurs to consider a trade,” Hollinger wrote. “But the draft is first and foremost a talent grab, and Harper is clearly the best talent left on the board.”
If Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo asked for a trade, it is now a guarantee that Fox or Castle would be included in the Spurs trade package for the two-time MVP.
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