Wembanyama should be hoping that Carter Bryant takes a huge leap

When the Spurs drafted Carter Bryant last summer, general manager Brian Wright revealed that they tried to trade up to grab the Riverside, California product. They couldn't make that happen, but it was Bryant's fate to don silver and black, so he landed in San Antonio anyway. It didn't take long for fans to see why the organization was so high on the supremely athletic wing.

Bryant's elevation is so ridiculous that it almost feels like he's showing off. He leaps like the Incredible Hulk, and his defensive ferocity is just as intense as Marvel's angry green monster. This franchise has hung its hat on defense for a long time, and with Victor Wembanyama anchoring the unit, he should want someone as dynamic as CB on the floor with him as much as possible.

Carter Bryant could unlock Wembanyama's defensive ceiling

Wemby's range is one of his most devastating defensive abilities. His height and length already make him a terror to go up against, but his quickness, timing, and high basketball IQ turn what's supposed to be a fun game into a miserable experience for his opponents. So, what happens when you put another All-NBA-level defender on the floor with him for 25 minutes a night?

Vic won't have to cover up as much because Bryant will be there next to Stephon Castle to do it for him. That's the other benefit of having Carter on the floor with Wembanyama—he'll also be out there with a bulldog like Castle.

Most teams can't have all of their best defenders on the floor at the same time for long because too many of those guys are specialists who lack the versatility to make those lineups work over time. Bryant holds the keys to unlocking that kind of advantage for San Antonio. He just needs a little more discipline.

Bryant's maturity must catch up to his athletic ability

Bryant takes pride in shutting guys down, and he has the tangible tools to do it. He's explosive, physical, and fearless, boasting a wingspan that is nearly seven feet long. It's like having a second Castle with more reach. But the playoffs were a good example of the good and bad in his game.

He was getting a little too rough out there. Some were good, hard fouls that were needed to establish the team's physicality, but many of those calls were just about his youth. He'd be too aggressive at the wrong time, not paying attention to detail. The ex-Wildcat also provided some good shooting and great defense, though.

We need more of the latter and less of the former.

He hesitated to shoot at times, despite having an open look. Those are the kinds of things that disrupt an offense. If he plays with the confidence his game deserves, his production and efficiency should improve significantly.

So should his playing time.

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