Carter Bryant is on brink of shattering his ceiling after surprising update

San Antonio Spurs lottery pick Carter Bryant has turned heads with his recent play, but not for the right reasons. Recently, I wrote about the possibility of the Spurs shipping Bryant to Austin to get more playing time in the G League after struggling mightily on the main roster.

I still believe that that is best for everyone, with his play actively hurting the team and possibly hurting his confidence. But it seems Bryant is already actively working on his game with renowned player coach Olin Simplis, who is helping to fine-tune his play.

Simplis has already worked with Spurs guard Stephon Castle as well as MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and has taken to calling himself the "Guard Whisperer." He definitely gets points for branding. Hopefully, Simplis can help Bryant work on his shot as well as his handles in the hopes of unlocking his offensive potential.

The results have yet to translate to his play in the NBA. But it is encouraging that he is already getting training during the season rather than waiting until next summer to try and tweak his game.

The Spurs have a lot riding on Carter Bryant's development

Given how little time there is between games with travel and whatnot, there is only so much that can be done to elevate his game during the season. Still, working with Simplis gives him the opportunity to try things out in games, just perhaps not NBA games.

The theory of Bryant is tantalizing, with him possibly developing into a 6'8" combo forward who can hit open threes, attack closeouts, and finish above the rim. Defensively, he could be an absolute terror, with his length, athleticism, and tenacity being a potential game-changer.

In fact, he could eventually replace both Keldon Johnson and Harrison Barnes when San Antonio is forced to make tough financial decisions due to the collective bargaining agreement. Those player types are hard to find, and if Bryant becomes that player, then San Antonio would have struck gold for a second time in the 2025 NBA Draft.

Carter Bryant may be two seasons away from helping the Spurs

Based on how he's looked thus far, it could take him another season or two to develop into that type of player. Fortunately, he's already getting extra training, so perhaps he may be able to round into form much sooner.

His biggest issues appear fixable, with him overreacting on defense, resulting in him biting on every shot attempt and picking up cheap fouls. He's also been awful offensively, including struggling to finish at the rim with several botched makeable dunks in addition to clanking open threes.

Teaching Bryant to be more disciplined defensively, finish better at the rim, and hit open threes are realistic goals and could very well happen. Having Simplis there to help guide him will hopefully speed up Bryant's transformation and turn him into the player the Spurs need him to be.