Carter Bryant is forcing Mitch Johnson to rewrite Spurs' playoff rotation

The San Antonio Spurs have fewer than 15 games remaining in the regular season before the playoffs. That means that Coach Mitch Johnson will soon whittle down his rotation to prepare for the postseason.

San Antonio has the benefit of being one of the deepest teams in the NBA. However, a recent development could make Johnson's job of deciding his playoff rotation even harder.

During veteran Harrison Barnes' five-game absence, rookie Carter Bryant emerged as a key rotation player.

His defense is already above average, even as a rookie, and he is shooting a blistering 38.2% from 3 over his last 20 games. He would be a clear rotation player on any team.

However, with the Spurs having Barnes, Johnson will have to decide which one can help the Silver and Black the most in the playoffs.

The Spurs must choose between Harrison Barnes and Carter Bryant

With Barnes back in the lineup, Bryant's role will likely decrease, but perhaps it shouldn't. Bryant played just seven minutes in Barnes' return to the lineup.

That suggests that he will go back to playing spot minutes, if at all, down the stretch and in the postseason. That's likely a mistake, but, given Barnes' importance to the team, it raises questions about who should actually be playing.

Before he had his 364-game consecutive streak snapped, he had bounced back from a rough stretch. In fact, he was shooting a sizzling 44.3% from three in the 14 games preceding his absence.

If Barnes continues to shoot 40% from three down the stretch and in the playoffs, Johnson must continue to play him.

Coach Mitch Johnson may play both Barnes and Bryant

On the other hand, Bryant has already shown that he is a talented shooter who can defend multiple positions. In theory, he should be getting all those minutes that Barnes may play.

With both players being perfectly good options for Johnson, he may opt to play both. He has already done so in the two games since Barnes' return.

That could mean both players essentially split minutes at backup power forward. Johnson has also shown more willingness to play small ball, with Barnes occasionally playing center in weird lineups.

Meanwhile, Bryant can easily play the three and might find spot minutes there as well.

Barnes and Bryant gives the Spurs the best of both worlds

Johnson could make it work by having them play multiple positions, giving each around 15 to 20 minutes per game. That may not be the most decisive course of action he could take, but it is probably the best one. It will give the Spurs the best of both worlds.

Barnes provides veteran leadership, sharp shooting, and surprisingly effective old-man drives to the basket. Meanwhile, Bryant provides a defensive hound who can also shoot and get out in transition.

Both players contribute valuable skills, and Coach Johnson may find it more beneficial to utilize both rather than selecting one over the other before the playoffs.