With the 2025 NBA Draft a week away, the trade chatter around the league is heating up and the Washington Wizards are making calls.
I’m told that the Wizards, who currently own the No. 6 pick in this year’s draft, have contacted the San Antonio Spurs about acquiring the No. 2 overall selection. While those conversations did happen, league sources tell me the Spurs are leaning toward keeping the pick and selecting Rutgers freshman Dylan Harper.
Harper, one of the most dynamic guards in this draft class, has impressed scouts with his combination of poise, IQ, and versatility. At 6-foot-6 with a strong frame and ability to create for others, he projects as a lead guard with high upside. San Antonio sees Harper as an ideal backcourt complement to Victor Wembanyama, their franchise cornerstone and the 2023 No. 1 overall pick.
According to league sources, San Antonio has done extensive homework on Harper throughout the year and views him as a potential face-of-the-franchise-caliber talent. “He’s got the it factor,” one scout said. “You put him next to Wemby and suddenly you’re building something that has legs for a decade.”
Wizards Are Aggressive, But Spurs Are Patient
For Washington, the outreach to San Antonio is part of a larger push to move up in the draft. Under new leadership, the Wizards are signaling that the days of passive rebuilding may be over. They’ve had conversations with multiple teams above them in the draft order, I’m told, and are aggressively looking to land a cornerstone player who can energize the fanbase and reset the culture.
This isn’t unfamiliar territory for the Wizards. In recent drafts, they’ve been in a position to take swings at high-ceiling prospects, but the rebuild has yet to yield a player they can fully build around. Moving up from No. 6 to No. 2 would potentially give them access to Harper who could be a franchise-altering pick.
However, prying that pick away from San Antonio appears to be a long shot. The Spurs are playing the long game and unless Washington offers a package that includes either a future unprotected first-rounder or a player with real upside, San Antonio seems content to stand firm.
“San Antonio knows exactly who they want,” one plugged-in executive told me. “They’re not in a rush to trade a top pick unless it’s a clear overpay.”
Dylan Harper Rising
Harper, the son of five-time NBA champion Ron Harper, is one of the most decorated freshmen in college basketball this past season. He averaged 19.4 points, 4 assists, and 4.6 rebounds per game for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights.
A highly intelligent player who competes on both ends, Harper has drawn comparisons to Cade Cunningham, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and James Harden.
The Spurs value two-way players who are unselfish, high-character, and adaptable. That profile fits Harper like a glove. Pairing him with Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle gives San Antonio one of the more promising young duos in the NBA—something the front office is highly focused on as they plan for sustained success.
