On Wednesday, the San Antonio Spurs started the trio of De'Aaron Fox, Dylan Harper, and Stephon Castle against the Phoenix Suns, to mixed results.

In Friday's preseason finale against the Sacramento Kings, the Spurs are expected to run things back with an identical starting five, rounding things out with Victor Wembanyama and Devin Vassell. In theory, having three ball-handlers out there on the floor at the same time should pay dividends, although there are some kinks to work out.

The three-guard lineup is certainly experimental, but it's not the only unconventional pairing Mitch Johnson has at his disposal.

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Picked 26th overall out of UConn, Tarris Reed is ahead of schedule. In the preseason, he's averaged five points and 9.3 rebounds, along with some spectacular defense. His 265-pound frame allows him to hold up down low a little bit better than Wembanyama, and for limited minutes, he and Wemby could be an excellent pairing.

Plus, with Luke Kornet still on the bench, the Spurs have a proven, reliable backup down low.

After Reed's 17-rebound outing against the Utah Jazz, it's pretty clear that he can handle a bigger role than originally expected. Plus, sharing the floor with Wembanyama makes playing good ball easier, since The Alien helps to mask some mistakes.

Reed, unlike Wembanyama, is not a floor-spacing big. However, he can block shots and roam a bit on defense, giving the Spurs some added size. On offense, he swallows offensive rebounds and can go right back up with it, kick it out to a shooter, or find a cutting Wembanyama.

It's the idea of Wembanyama playing with more motion off-ball that appeals. On offense, Reed can play down low as a possible lob threat, standing just outside the paint. Wembanyama, meanwhile, can start each possession on the perimeter, either serving as a catch-and-shoot threat or as a slasher, catching the ball with a full head of steam towards the rim.

If Wembanyama receives a pass behind the arc, defenders from all over the floor close out. By giving him a big target down low in Reed, Wembanyama should be able to create plenty of open baskets for the rookie center.

His passing and court vision have been an area of focus this summer, and pairing him with Reed should unlock as much of it as possible.