What happened: Harper finished fourth in Rookie of the Year voting and became a key reserve during a run to the Finals. Bailey led his roster in minutes and closed his debut season with three 30-point games in March.
Why it matters: Harper’s postseason production strengthened his case for more on-ball responsibility. Bailey enters a more crowded scoring hierarchy after averaging more than 17 points over his final 30 appearances.
By the numbers: Harper averaged 11.8 points, 3.9 assists and 3.4 rebounds in 22.6 minutes per game. Bailey averaged 13.8 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 27.6 minutes.
What to watch: Harper’s perimeter shooting and Bailey’s role within a reshaped rotation will help determine their 2026-27 trajectories.