{"id":108064,"date":"2024-11-20T12:30:30","date_gmt":"2024-11-20T17:30:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=108064"},"modified":"2024-11-20T12:30:30","modified_gmt":"2024-11-20T17:30:30","slug":"rutgers-dylan-harper-better-father-bulls","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/11\/20\/rutgers-dylan-harper-better-father-bulls\/","title":{"rendered":"Rutgers\u2019 Dylan Harper Could Be Better Than Father For East Team"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Rutgers freshman star <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cbb\/players\/dylan-harper-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Dylan Harper<\/a> is among the most skilled scorers projected to enter the 2025 NBA Draft, averaging 21.3 points per game early in the 2024-25 season.<\/p>\n<p>At 6-foot-6 and 220 pounds, Harper is more of a multi-positional weapon than pure point guard. Nonetheless, his skillset inspires images of Oklahoma City Thunder leader <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/g\/gilgesh01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Shai Gilgeous-Alexander<\/a>, who is listed at 6-foot-6 and 200 pounds. Unlike Gilgeous-Alexander, the runner-up for the 2024 NBA MVP Award, Harper is a lefty. However, they\u2019re both exceptionally crafty when they\u2019re on the ball, able to score in a variety of ways.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">6\u20196 Rutgers Freshman Dylan Harper made his Official College Debut tonight vs Wagner..<\/p>\n<p>20 PTS (9-14 FG, 1-4 3PT)<br \/>\n4 AST<br \/>\n3 REBS<br \/>\n3 STLS<\/p>\n<p>How we feeling RN, Top 5 lock?? <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Od6DWAh0Dy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/Od6DWAh0Dy<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Frankie Vision (@Frankie_Vision) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Frankie_Vision\/status\/1854332376249188850?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">November 7, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>That being said, while they dominate as scorers, they\u2019re not ball-dominant. That works to their benefit anyway because they\u2019re able to play off of their teammates. At the defensive end, their length and anticipation allows them to cause chaos.<\/p>\n<p>These aren\u2019t the only reasons why the Chicago Bulls should draft Harper, but they\u2019ll be key to that decision.<\/p>\n<h2>Rutgers\u2019 Dylan Harper Could Be Better Than Father For Bulls<\/h2>\n<p>Here\u2019s a quick history lesson: Harper is the son of 1986 No. 8 pick <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/h\/harpero01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Ron Harper<\/a>, who played for four teams during his standout career.<\/p>\n<p>His time with the Bulls were his most memorable years. In Chicago, Harper won three championships alongside six-time NBA champion, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/j\/jordami01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Michael Jordan<\/a>. However, that wasn\u2019t really his prime. Prior to signing with the Bulls in 1994, Harper had career averages of 19.3 points, 4.9 assists, and 2.1 steals per game.<\/p>\n<p>Whether it was in an effort to elongate his career or because Chicago didn\u2019t need to much scoring with Jordan in the roster, he decided to reinvent himself after that. Like 2004 No. 9 pick <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/i\/iguodan01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Andre Iguodala<\/a> joining the Golden State Warriors, Harper opted to be a star in his role rather than a borderline All-Star. In five seasons with the Bulls, he averaged 7.9 points, 2.6 assists, and 1.3 steals per game. After his Bulls tenure, he won two championships with the Los Angeles Lakers using that same formula.<\/p>\n<p>His youngest son doesn\u2019t have to take that route to be at his best in Chicago.<\/p>\n<h3>Harper Is Sharper<\/h3>\n<p>This offseason, the Bulls will have the option of extending or re-signing point guards <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/g\/giddejo01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Josh Giddey<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/b\/balllo01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Lonzo Ball<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Giddey\u2019s defensive struggles put his future with the team in jeopardy. For Ball, it\u2019s his <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/10\/18\/lonzo-ball-makes-his-long-awaited-return-to-the-court\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">unfavorable injury history<\/a>. However, <em>their<\/em> contracts aren\u2019t the only conversation starter, as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/w\/whiteco01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Coby White<\/a> will be on the final year of his deal in 2025-26. With so many potential movers and shakers, the runway could simply be clear for Harper\u2019s arrival.<\/p>\n<p>In that event, Harper would have the chance to start as a rookie, though there are certainly no guarantees. To that point, 2024 No. 11 pick <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/b\/buzelma01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Matas Buzelis<\/a> is still <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/11\/01\/billy-donovan-sheds-light-on-young-prospects-matas-buzelis-lack-of-playing-time\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">on the outside, looking in<\/a> at Chicago\u2019s rotation. Nonetheless, Bulls head coach Billy Donovan might sing a different tune about Harper due to his skill, feel, and basketball IQ. That\u2019s not to say Buzelis lacks any of those qualities, just that Harper is sharper.<\/p>\n<p>Frankly, that\u2019s the case when comparing Harper to Giddey as well. Giddey is a top-notch facilitator, but his scoring instincts are behind his passing instincts. Additionally, while Harper isn\u2019t thought of as a lockdown defender, he has greater awareness than Giddey. Thus, he projects to be a better defender, especially off-ball.<\/p>\n<h3>1-3<\/h3>\n<p>Harper should be able to start alongside White as the Bulls continue to flesh out their new core. Because both are hybrid guards, the key will be finding out the best way to play them off of each other. Due to his experience and last season\u2019s improvements, White might start out as the primary lead guard. At the end of the day though, their chemistry and decision-making will matter more than who is at what position.<\/p>\n<p>Of course, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/l\/lavinza01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Zach LaVine<\/a>\u2019s outlook could affect their plans.<\/p>\n<p>He\u2019s\u00a0been <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/11\/11\/zach-lavine-mindset-more-attractive-bulls-trades\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">raising his trade value<\/a> with how well he\u2019s played to start the season. That could make him easier to move, whether it\u2019s before the 2024-25 trade deadline or next offseason. However, the Bulls should be prepared in case they can\u2019t find a trade partner for the star guard.<\/p>\n<p>This is another reason why Harper\u2019s size matters though. If cross-matching, Harper can play a guard role on offense while guarding a forward on defense. Because he can feasibly play 1-3, he can mesh with virtually any perimeter group. For a team with so many <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/11\/15\/chicago-bulls-zach-lavine-billy-donovan-relationship\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">questions about their future<\/a>, that makes the legacy guard a better fit than many picks.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Rutgers freshman star Dylan Harper is among the most skilled scorers projected to enter the 2025 NBA Draft, averaging 21.3 points per game early in the 2024-25 season. At 6-foot-6 and 220 pounds, Harper is more of a multi-positional weapon than pure point guard. Nonetheless, his skillset inspires images of Oklahoma City Thunder leader Shai [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5008,"featured_media":108081,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[1782,49668,4276,98,297,2068,457],"class_list":["post-108064","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-coby-white","tag-dylan-harper","tag-josh-giddey","tag-nba-draft","tag-nba-free-agency","tag-ron-harper","tag-zach-lavine"],"modified_by":"Quenton S Albertie","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/108064","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5008"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=108064"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/108064\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/108081"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=108064"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=108064"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=108064"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}