Dylan Harper can see himself have James Harden career arc on Spurs

While having too much talent at one spot might be a champagne problem, it's a problem nonetheless. Being stacked at one position could cause a logjam that forces coaching staffs to find creative solutions to make the best of their rosters.

The Oklahoma City Thunder notoriously had this problem a decade ago. Now, the San Antonio Spurs could be up next if they travel the trajectory most expect them to over the next few years.

From 2007 to 2009, the Thunder had one of the most absurd stretches of draft luck. They added back-to-back-to-back future MVP winners in Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden. That momentum skyrocketed them from a rebuild to an NBA Finals squad within three seasons.

After three seasons together, Harden ventured off to greener pastures. He was traded to the Houston Rockets in a blockbuster deal. The change in scenery completely changed his career. He went from a Sixth Man of the Year winner to a perennial MVP candidate. No longer third-fiddle and instead the top guy, he blossomed into one of the NBA's best all-time scorers.

While not a perfect one-for-one example — at least not yet — Dylan Harper hopes to copy Harden's career. The San Antonio Spurs added him with the No. 2 pick of the 2025 NBA draft. The 19-year-old discussed the possibility of being a rare top-two pick rookie who comes off the bench.

“James Harden was with the Thunder and came off the bench for three, four years waiting his turn," Harper said on the "7PM in Brooklyn" podcast. "So everyone gotta wait for theirs.”

After receiving some lottery luck, the Spurs had the unexpected chance to add another blue-chip prospect. Not concerned with positional redundancy, they drafted Harper. After De'Aaron Fox was given a contract extension and Stephon Castle won Rookie of the Year, San Antonio may suddenly have too many guards.

It sounds like Harper is getting ahead of the eventual question of who among the three guards starts. Maybe the Spurs go the unconventional route and start all three. Victor Wembanyama gives you the defensive wiggle room to get away with that.

But regardless of the Spurs' decision, Harper is ready to do whatever is asked of him. That's a good mindset to have. The long-term plan is likely for Harper and Castle to be the starting backcourt. You just hope his best years are on your team, unlike how Harden's situation in OKC played out.

This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Dylan Harper can see himself have James Harden career arc on Spurs