The Spurs just found their Kawhi Leonard replacement after years-long search

Former San Antonio Spurs superstar Kawhi Leonard isn’t fondly remembered after demanding a trade back in 2019. Fortunately for the Spurs, they have successfully rebuilt their roster since then, including drafting superstar Victor Wembanyama.

However, they have been missing a true Leonard replacement. Not anymore. San Antonio drafted Carter Bryant 14th overall in this year’s draft, and he has already displayed tantalizing potential.

Despite Leonard having not played for the Spurs since 2019, they have been sorely lacking a big, athletic small forward who can both shoot and defend reliably. Bryant has a chance to be that player type, even if he doesn’t project to be the same level of player that Leonard developed into.

Carter Bryant is the Spurs’ true Kawhi Leonard replacement

Since trading Leonard, the Spurs have cycled through small forwards, including DeMar DeRozan for three seasons, Keldon Johnson, and most recently, Devin Vassell at the three. He will likely continue on in that role next season while Bryant further develops.

Still, Bryant clearly differs from those players. DeRozan was strictly an offensive player who needed to be hidden on defense. Johnson’s shooting struggles and defensive struggles eventually pushed him to the bench.

Meanwhile, Vassell’s offensive inconsistency and regression on defense have put a question mark around his role with the Spurs. Bryant is an explosive athlete, posting a stellar 39.5-inch max vertical leap at the NBA Draft Combine to go along with his 6’8″ frame and 7 ft wingspan.

That makes them both taller and more athletic than Leonard was when he was drafted back in 2011. And while Leonard was the better college player, Bryant is a superior shooter at similar points in their careers.

What will Carter Bryant’s long-term role be on the Spurs?

Assuming he is able to play with the same defensive intensity he displayed in the NBA Summer League and at Arizona, that will get him on the court faster. Right now, he is likely behind Vassell and Johnson in the depth chart, but perhaps not for long for the aforementioned reasons.

The obvious hope is that he can start at small forward and harass opposing wings while being a knockdown shooter on offense. He won’t be tasked with doing as much as Leonard did during his first few seasons with the Spurs.

But Bryant being able to score off cuts, in transition, and attack closeouts all seem realistic. Especially if playing alongside De’Aaron Fox and Victor Wembanyama, who will draw plenty of attention away from him.

Thriving in a low-usage offensive role and being an impact defender is exactly what Leonard did to help the Spurs dominate in the early to mid-2010s. If Bryant can fill that role on this incarnation of the Spurs, then they could quickly reenter title contention.