Carter Bryant’s preseason minutes are about more than shaking off rust. For San Antonio, they’re a clean look at whether the second-year forward is ready to make the kind of jump that changes a rotation.
Bryant showed plenty as a rookie, with his best flashes coming in the playoffs. Mitch Johnson leaned on him to help force turnovers and difficult shots, while also using him to space the floor and, at times, operate as an offensive hub in small-ball lineups.
The versatility was real. So were the gaps.
That’s why this preseason matters so much for Bryant. The Spurs’ forward group is even more crowded now after the addition of Tobias Harris, and Bryant needs to show he can handle a bigger role on a deep roster. This is his chance to prove the offensive side of his game has grown enough to match the defensive value he already brought.
The biggest test starts with the three-point shot. Bryant opened his rookie year slowly from deep, but he settled in after the All-Star break, when he hit 35% of his long-range attempts.
He was even better during San Antonio’s playoff run, knocking down 41% from beyond the arc. The catch is that the volume was modest: 2.8 threes per game after the All-Star break and only 1.3 in the playoffs.
That’s the next step. It’s one thing to hit shots in a smaller sample.
It’s another to do it when the attempts go up. Bryant should get enough run in the preseason to show he can keep that efficiency while being more aggressive from outside.
That kind of growth would matter a lot for a Spurs offense built around players like Victor Wembanyama and Dylan Harper, who can create open perimeter looks for teammates.
There’s more to watch than just the jumper, though. San Antonio would also like to see Bryant finish better around the rim. He wasn’t especially effective scoring in the paint as a rookie, and a game against Utah’s big roster offers a useful test of how much he has improved as a slasher.
With more touches, he can also show progress as a passer and a decision-maker. That part of his game could become valuable during the regular season, especially in small-ball lineups where he can work as an offensive hub or short-roller and generate easier looks for others.
Bryant has the kind of preseason opportunity young players want: real minutes, real responsibility, and a clear path to prove something. If he makes the most of his training camp and preseason reps, he can make Mitch Johnson’s rotation decisions a little easier.
In Other News...
Spurs Invite Three Long Shots To Fight For One Tough Roster Spot
The Spurs have added three more bodies to training camp, giving Miles Barnstable, Jayden Nunn and Taelon Peter a chance to spend the next few weeks trying to talk their way onto the edge of the roster. It is the kind of low-risk, high-competition move teams make when the regular-season picture is mostly set, and in San Antonio's case the math is already tight with 14 players on standard deals and all three two-way slots filled.
So the opening is narrow, but it is real. One of those camp invitees could still play his way into an active-roster spot, and if not, the path may lead to the Austin Spurs in the G League. The bigger question around the roster is whether the front office leaves this spot alone for now or keeps one more move in reserve as camp unfolds. [Read more 🡒]
Spurs Suddenly Have A Real Fight Over A Key Starting Spot
Julian Champagnies new three-year extension gave the Spurs a clear vote of confidence in one of their younger core pieces, but it did not exactly freeze the depth chart in place. San Antonio also brought in Tobias Harris, a veteran forward with far more NBA mileage and a game that can stretch across multiple roles offensively, which gives the front office and coaching staff a legitimate new option as they sort out the lineup.
The overlap is what makes this worth watching. Champagnie has already earned a place as a starter on a successful team, but Harris has done the same with a different resume and a different kind of polish, and the Spurs now have to decide which version fits best alongside their other pieces. The answer will come in camp and the preseason, where the team can see whether continuity or experience wins out in the opening five. [Read more 🡒]
Bulls Take A Closer Look At Young Guard Depth In Camp
The late-summer roster churn keeps rolling, and the Spurs have added another name to their camp mix as teams sort through young guards and G League possibilities before the preseason grind settles in. Around the league, Detroit brought in Jordan Riley on a training camp contract, while Chicago padded its own backcourt look with Houston Mallette and Peter Suder, a reminder of how many teams are still searching for developmental depth at the perimeter.
San Antonios addition fits that same mold, giving the club a closer look at a rookie guard as camp opens and the evaluation window narrows. The deal appears to be structured with the G League pathway in mind, which gives the Spurs a low-risk way to see how Barnstable fits while keeping an eye on the longer-term upside that often comes with these training camp signings. [Read more 🡒]