Carter Bryant has looked great throughout the preseason stage. He seems as confident as ever on the scoring end, and he's made some awesome heads-up defensive plays. His ability to get stops will ignite some early offense and transition opportunities for the San Antonio Spurs, making him a great fit alongside their ever-talked-about guard trio.
Bryant's impact this season won't just be measured by his defense. Sure, that'll be an important part of this squad's success, but what he does on the other side of the floor will be pivotal. He must show up as a consistent floor-spacing threat and strong finisher at the rim.
Being able to use his defensive prowess as a catalyst for early offense is another way he can contribute at a high level. We can see the best of this when he shares the court with De'Aaron Fox, Dylan Harper, and Stephon Castle.
Carter Bryant and the Spurs' guard trio are a match made in heaven
Those three guards each excel at playing a fast, up-and-down pace. It's nearly impossible for opponents to keep them from getting to the basket, both in the half-court and in transition. Spurs fans have become accustomed to seeing them grab a rebound or an outlet pass and push the ball coast-to-coast for a bucket on the other end.
Bryant will help them lean into that even more. At 6'6", he's a versatile defender who can force misses, pick off steals, or block shots, and these are the sorts of plays that create those early scoring opportunities his teammates love to capitalize on.
Having him alongside three athletic guards who can handle and advance the rock from baseline to baseline is a cheat code. Opponents will be on their heels, trying to gather themselves after an offensive slip-up, which could put them at a disadvantage in transition and lead to points on the board for the Spurs.
Bryant can be a beneficiary of his own defense
Another advantage of playing alongside multiple ball-handlers is that they know how to reward teammates who run the floor. Bryant's a well-conditioned athlete who can make a strong defensive play and still get down the other end quickly enough to be available as a scoring option.
If Harper, Castle, or Fox has the ball, they can demand a ton of attention from those transition defenders. This allows Bryant to sneak from behind and catch them off guard by cutting to the basket or spot up beyond the arc for an open three.
We're already getting a good idea of the impact Bryant can make for the Spurs this season. Not only will he elevate this team defensively, but he will also help their guard trio become even more dangerous together on the scoring end.
