The San Antonio Spurs used their 2026 NBA Draft selections to bolster their defensive frontcourt around Victor Wembanyama, addressing depth issues exposed during their recent Finals run.
The franchise took Jayden Quaintance from the University of Kentucky with the No. 20 pick and traded back into the first round to select University of Connecticut center Tarris Reed Jr. at No. 26 overall.
On the second night of the draft, the Spurs remained focused on the frontcourt, taking reigning ACC Defensive Player of the Year Maliq Brown out of Duke University at No. 44. Two picks earlier, the team added playmaking depth, drafting Ja’Kobi Gillespie from the University of Tennessee.
Reaching the NBA Finals went beyond expectations for the Spurs last season, but falling short to the New York Knicks exposed holes San Antonio must address this offseason.
The Spurs’ frontcourt depth fell flat in the postseason, with backup big man Luke Kornet struggling to find his rhythm, at times leaving Victor Wembanyama frustrated in the paint.
The new additions likely won’t earn a starting position at the beginning of the season. However, the Spurs seem poised to address their roster issues, and the free agency period hasn’t started yet.
Before the draft, Quaintance held a strong argument to be viewed as lottery-level talent, but his knee injuries slid him all the way down to No. 20. On the first night of the draft, General Manager Brian Wright said the team’s doctors will establish the right recovery plan for the rookie.
“Take a very long approach. He’s got tremendous talent, and unfortunately, that was cut a little bit short due to injury,” Wright said.
At best, Quaintance fits as the starter next to Wembanyama in the paint, allowing the star center to move on both sides of the ball. At worst, he could end up a key bench player next to Kornet and Keldon Johnson.
Reed also will be tasked with protecting the frontcourt, although he’s viewed more as a backup for Wemby. The rookie will provide frontcourt depth alongside the Spurs’ trio of veteran free agents — Kelly Olynyk, Mason Plumlee and Bismack Biyombo.
Reed brings four years of college experience, splitting time between the University of Michigan and UConn. He also can relate to falling short of a championship, since his final year at UConn ended with a loss in the national title chase.
“I know the feeling, working for something so hard, sleepless nights and coming up short,” Reed said. “Having a group of guys with a chip on their shoulder going into next year, and that’s a championship organization, so proud to be part of it.”
The Spurs’ additions in the second round will likely fill complementary roles for the team. Gillespie could fill the role of free agent Jordan McLaughlin. He may struggle due to being undersized for NBA standards, but he also could step up as a big-time scorer who can come off the bench.
With the No. 44 pick, the Spurs’ selection of Brown continued the team’s focus on frontcourt depth. He isn’t a big-time scorer, averaging 4.9 points per game in his senior year, but he was a force on the glass, delivering 5.2 rebounds per game off the bench.
Brown, the ACC Defensive Player of the Year, adds physical power to fit alongside Carter Bryant off the bench.
Rookie camp will begin Monday in San Antonio, and the newcomers will head to the California Classic July 3-6, followed by the Las Vegas Summer League, set to start July 9.
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