Spurs' lottery luck results in interesting quandary at No. 2 pick

With the right to select the most heralded player in the class not named Cooper Flagg, the possibility remains that the Spurs could soon have yet another Rookie of the Year on their roster.

While the idea of a trifecta of back-to-back-to-back Rookie of the Years may be an enticing one, it's worth noting that the player most often mocked to the Spurs is Rutgers combo guard Dylan Harper. However, his position is far from in-demand in San Antonio. 

The 6-foot-4 Harper has drawn comparisons to James Harden, but the Spurs backcourt already feels set. With De’Aaron Fox and Castle running the show in San Antonio, it's worth wondering where Harper could potentially fit in. 

Conflicting reports have already leaked out of San Antonio regarding the team's plans for the No. 2 pick. ESPN's Jonathan Givony reported on "NBA Today" that the Spurs want to keep the pick and are excited about the on-court potential of a three-man Castle, Fox and Harper backcourt. However, ESPN's Marc J. Spears reported that the Spurs are "open-minded" about possibly trading the pick.

Conversely, instead of trading the pick or drafting Harper, the Spurs could look to select a player who, positionally, is more in need. Baylor’s VJ Edgecombe or Rutgers’ Ace Bailey both appear to have star upside, and both project more as wings than full-time point guards or on-ball creators. 

While many things can change between now and the night of the draft, the likeliest resolution to this most enviable position is that the Spurs will draft the best player available. Because of the sheer greatness of Wembanyama, the Spurs can continue to remain in the talent acquisition phase of their “rebuild” while simultaneously being one of the more dangerous up-and-coming Western Conference teams. Even if the addition of Harper creates a bit of roster overlap in San Antonio, no one should be surprised if the Spurs not only secure a playoff bid next year, but skip the play-in tournament altogether. 

As has been shown numerous times throughout NBA history, there are consequences for NBA teams that pass up on superior talent just because it's slightly inconvenient for the makeup of their current roster. The Spurs, having shown time and time again to be one of the smartest organizations in the NBA, are unlikely to make this mistake. Barring a "Godfather offer," look for the Spurs to select Harper with the second overall pick and figure the rest out later.