Spurs send strongest signal yet about Carter Bryant’s future after Harris signing

With the San Antonio Spurs having signed Tobias Harris, it raises questions about his potential fit and how Carter Bryant fits into their long-term plans. On the surface, Harris being signed seems like a vote of no confidence in Bryant.

In reality, the more likely explanation is that San Antonio doesn't view Bryant as a full-time power forward. Instead, they likely see him as a three that could slot in behind Devin Vassell and Keldon Johnson at small forward.

Playing behind the Spurs' two longest-tenure players normally wouldn't be a great thing for a young prospect. Then again, Bryant possesses the tools to overtake Johnson in the rotation next season.

Carter Bryant may be Keldon Johnson's replacement

After Johnson's poor showing in the NBA playoffs, Bryant could soon be ready to take his spot in the rotation. It may not happen during training camp or even the first couple of months of the season, but with Johnson in the final year of his contract, it will likely happen.

San Antonio could trade Johnson in season, but that seems like a stretch given his importance to the team. Instead, if Bryant outplays Johnson, they will likely hold on to him throughout next season before parting ways next summer.

That's not to discount the possibility of Johnson bouncing back and having a strong 2026-27 season. After all, he is the reigning Sixth Man of the Year.

That being said, with San Antonio having re-signed Julian Champagnie, it's doubtful they can afford to extend Johnson. That paves the way for Bryant to earn a spot in the rotation.

The Spurs are grooming Bryant to be their starting small forward

Bryant proved that he is already an above-average defensive player last season. And after a slow start to the season, his 3-point shot finally began to fall. In fact, he connected on 41.4% of his threes in the NBA playoffs, showing that he can space the floor.

Ironically, his biggest opportunity for improvement is his finishing in the paint. For someone who can jump out of the gym and is 6'8", he was a surprisingly poor finisher.

He connected on just 59.5% of his shots from within three feet during the regular season. That is far and away the worst percentage of any Spurs player that logged at least 800 minutes last season.

To his credit, he shot 66.7% on 2-point attempts in the playoffs. Better finishing, more consistent 3-point shooting, and fewer defensive lapses, and it's easy to see a path for Bryant to earn minutes over Johnson next season.

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