Dylan Harper's thumb surgery may have one concerning ripple effect

Players Era Festival: Texas A&M v Rutgers | Candice Ward/GettyImagesLast Friday, the Spurs announced that their number two overall pick underwent surgery to repair a thumb he injured in a workout two days prior. While the recovery shouldn't be painstakingly long, there is still a chance that Dylan Harper won't be ready to start the season. That means missing his first chance to make a monstrous statement in the Rookie of the Year race against Cooper Flagg.

San Antonio kicks the season off with a duel versus their North Texas rivals, the Dallas Mavericks. Harper isn't expected in the starting lineup, though, so that will be an uphill battle for him all year long. It would help his chances if…