Dylan Harper might not be the same prospect as Cooper Flagg, but he’s not too far behind. Getting Harper instead of Flagg might turn out like the Houston Rockets drafting Hakeem Olajuwon instead of Michael Jordan in 1984.
While it’s not like it was in doubt before, Harper has declared for the NBA Draft, meaning he’ll be starting his rookie season not too long from now. But for who?
5 Potential Landing Spots for Dylan Harper
The common consensus these days is that Harper will be picked right after Flagg at No. 2, with quite a few teams as potential landing spots. While these teams will almost certainly be upset about missing out on a generational talent like Flagg by one spot, Harper’s upside will calm those feelings if he pans out like most analysts believe he will.
Utah Jazz
The Jazz are embracing their rebuild, but lack a young centerpiece. Because of that glaring hole, they will likely take the best player available. Harper gives Utah an oversized point guard who can create matchup problems while revving up their playmaking.
Despite the bevy of intriguing young talent in Utah, none of their ceilings come close to Harper’s. He wouldn’t bring the ailing franchise back to playoff contention immediately, but he’d be a great start.
Washington Wizards
Harper could be a perennial star, no matter where he ends up. However, in Washington, he would be paired with veterans who’ve been on the NBA’s biggest stage—Khris Middleton, Marcus Smart and Jordan Poole.
The Wizards have built a solid youth movement, and Harper would only add to it. Pairing him with the likes of Alexandre Sarr, Bilal Coulibaly and Kyshawn George may give Wizards fans some much-needed hope for their future.
Charlotte Hornets
Of all the teams who could land the No. 2 pick, Charlotte might be the least likely to take Harper because of their roster construction. They already have a player with a similar archetype in LaMelo Ball, and could be better off selecting a player like Ace Bailey. But the best player available is the best player available—no matter what.
Adding Harper would give them another playmaker alongside Ball and Brandon Miller. The Hornets have some promise, but another high-end creator could finally push them back into the playoffs for the first time since 2016.
New Orleans Pelicans
Of all the worst teams in the league, the Pelicans have the most talent on paper. The main reason they’re even in this conversation is because of injuries. At full strength, a core of Harper, Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy III and Herbert Jones would make New Orleans a scary team.
With Dejounte Murray’s timeline for return murky at best, Harper could slide right in as the lead playmaker. He might not be relied on as a scorer just yet, but he could fill a lot of holes in their rotation.
Philadelphia 76ers
The Sixers have struggled the last two seasons, and while injuries played a role, the real issue is the lack of elite playmaker they once had in James Harden and Ben Simmons.
If they can stay healthy, Harper fills that void. Add in his scoring, and Philly’s offense could be hard to stop—but only if they have their full roster.
No matter where Harper lands, he’s got the tools to become the face of a franchise in a few years. Whether it’s right away or down the road, he could push any of these teams back into playoff contention.