The San Antonio Spurs wanted to acquire size in the 2026 NBA Draft on Tuesday, and they certainly got it.
With the 20th selection, they selected injured Kentucky center Jayden Quaintance. The 6-foot-10 big man has a 7-5 wingspan, is ridiculously athletic and has significant upside as a two-way prospect.
Complications from a catastrophic knee injury limited him to four games this season, and that’s why the Spurs unquestionably will bring him along slowly. They will make sure his recovery is optimal, and he’s mentally ready to produce.
Quaintance, who is just 18 years old, is a long-term upside play, unlike Connecticut big man Tarris Reed Jr., whom San Antonio selected 26th after trading back into the first round.
San Antonio relinquished the 35th selection and two additional second-rounders to move up to take Reed.
The 22-year-old senior is a physical specimen at 6-10 and over 264 pounds. He has a 7-4 wingspan and posted a 31-point, 27-rebound game in the NCAA tournament.
Reed will likely crack the rotation earlier than Quaintance, but that’s going to be by design.
The Spurs saw a drastic need for rebounding and interior play during their Finals loss to the New York Knicks, so they wasted little time pursuing potential solutions.
Furthermore, the choice to opt for size allows them to free up Luke Kornet in trade talks. Given his salary of over $10 million, he could make for an interesting salary-matching chip, especially if they can find a big wing to add for next season.
