New Spurs Rumors on Who Team Views as 2nd-Best Player Behind Victor Wembanyama

The San Antonio Spurs have one of the deepest rosters in the NBA, but they reportedly already know the hierarchy behind star center Victor Wembanyama.

During Tuesday's episode of The Hoop Collective (27:00 mark), ESPN's Michael C. Wright said he's heard "really good things" about second-year guard Dylan Harper, and Brian Windhorst took it a step further.

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"I'll just say it. The Spurs internally believe Dylan Harper is their second-best player," Windhorst said. "I'm not saying Mitch Johnson's gonna come out and say that, he shouldn't come out and say that. That's not a slight on De'Aaron Fox. That's not a slight on Stephon Castle. Harper is a stud. You talk to other front offices in the league, they say the same thing. I mean, look. He's a number two pick in the draft. Of course, he's a stud. And he only got better as the season went along."

Harper started just four of his 69 regular-season appearances during his rookie year and averaged 11.8 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.8 assists. However, he upped his production in the playoffs and had a breakout showing in the NBA Finals against the New York Knicks, averaging 18.0 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.0 assists as the Spurs lost in five games.

With Fox and Castle likely to be in the starting lineup, Harper would be once again relegated to the sixth-man role. He previously told B/R that he would be able to excel in any role he sees during his sophomore campaign.

Still, it sounds like Harper's emergence to the superstar level could come sooner than expected, so he could be a player to watch during the upcoming campaign.