The San Antonio Spurs wasted no time addressing their frontcourt needs in the 2026 NBA Draft, acquiring two big men in the first round.
With the No. 20 pick, the Spurs selected University of Kentucky center Jayden Quaintance. The team also acquired the No. 26 pick via trade with the Denver Nuggets to select Tarris Reed Jr. from the University of Connecticut.
Among the youngest in this year’s draft class, the 6-foot-10 Quaintance was a sleeper prospect with lottery talent who fell into the Spurs’ hands. His draft stock slipped due to an injury-prone sophomore season after suffering an ACL tear that ended his sophomore season following just four games.
The Spurs are taking a high-risk, high-reward approach on a prospect that, in his playing time, has shown significant upside as a rim protector and rebounder. The player is still dealing with pain in his knee and could face another surgery to clean up his meniscus, according to an Express-News report.
After trading the No. 35 pick this year and two second-round picks next season to Denver, the Spurs selected Reed, a 6-foot-11 center with a wingspan of more than 7 feet who was one of UConn’s best players during the Huskies’ NCAA championship run. Reed will bring strength and depth to the Spurs frontcourt.
Quaintance will likely miss Summer League action that begins July 3, as he recovers from multiple knee injuries. The team expects that Reed will be ready for action July 3 and will work toward his role backing up star center Victor Wembanyama.
While Quaintance not be ready for training camp, the Spurs appear comfortable taking a long approach as he recovers from his ailments.
“He’s got tremendous, tremendous talent and unfortunately that was cut short a little, but due to injury,” said Spurs general manager Brian Wright. “But had it not been, maybe we don’t have the opportunity to draft him.”
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