Spurs rumors: The ultimate factor in De’Aaron Fox vs. Dylan Harper debate

The San Antonio Spurs learned plenty of lessons from their run to the NBA Finals last season. They were ahead of schedule, which also became a double-edged sword. Their inexperience showed in their loss to the New York Knicks, but it was also a glimpse of what the Spurs could do in the immediate future.

As a seasoned guard, San Antonio counted on De’Aaron Fox to provide leadership and steadiness in the NBA Finals. He, however, struggled, earning heavy backlash from fans. Many urged coach Mitch Johnson to replace Fox with Dylan Harper in the starting lineup. Johnson refused to budge, placing his trust in Fox.

With training camp on the horizon, the debate over Fox or Harper as the floor general will likely resurface. But according to ESPN’s Michael Wright, it could be status quo for the Spurs, although a little twist is not far-fetched.

“After Fox’s rough showing in the NBA Finals, team sources said the Spurs remain committed to the veteran, pointing out that San Antonio might have never reached the finals without the point guard’s contributions while playing on a high right ankle sprain,” wrote Wright.

“Ultimately, though, sources said the decision between Fox and Harper will belong to Johnson and will be decided solely by what happens on the floor. Johnson mentioned wanting to experiment with playing all three guards together in some lineups. San Antonio did that in 18 games last season with disastrous results (minus-26.9 net rating). Still, the trio could improve with an entire offseason together.”

Wright was referring to Stephon Castle as the third guard.

Harper has embraced his role as a spark plug off the bench. He, however, could sing a different tune when San Antonio starts to struggle with Fox in the starting unit.

Last season, the 28-year-old Fox averaged 18.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, 6.2 assists, and 1.2 steals. He also had to adjust his game, willingly surrendering touches to Victor Wembanyama and Castle. The 20-year-old Harper, meanwhile, tallied 11.8 points, 50.5% shooting, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.9 assists.

Choosing between them could be a good problem for Johnson. Regardless, the Spurs remain a heavy favorite in the Western Conference.

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