You don’t often see teams double down on rookies at the same position in the draft. It’s even rarer that you see a team make a trade to grab a player at the same position they just drafted. That either speaks to Tarris Reed’s value, the status of Jayden Quaintance’s knee, or how dire the San Antonio Spurs’ need for center depth was. Reed Jr. is set to be the most impactful Spurs rookie, according to a recent poll.
Reed Jr. is coming off his best college season, averaging 14.7 points, 9 rebounds, and
2 blocks per game. He’s a bit of a throwback player with his combination of size, strength, and touch at the center position. He’s more likely to score on an offensive rebound or in the low post than to run the break in transition and soar for a dunk, or knock down three-pointers.
In the summer league, Reed Jr. looked at his best when he was using his 6-foot-10, 260-pound frame around the basket to clear the glass on both ends, or score physically through traffic. His best skill was one that won’t show up in the stat sheet but will make a real impact: setting screens. He helped guards like Ja’Kobi Gillespie get downhill with ease by cutting off angles with his wide frame.
It’s those transferable skills that should make him an immediate impact player for San Antonio. At worst, he’s another big body that the Spurs can use when Victor Wembanyama or Luke Kornet need to rest. At best, he could fight his way into the rotation as a physical presence who can give San Antonio another look from the fundamentally sound Kornet and the genetic freak Wembanyama. Expect him to get a chance to show what he can do early, like Carter Bryant and Dylan Harper had last season.
Quaintance, the 20th pick in the draft, may have a higher ceiling than Reed Jr., but will be recovering from knee surgery to start the season. There has been no timetable for Quaintance’s return yet, and depending on when he’s healthy, it may make sense to shut him down for the season, so as not to thrust a rookie into a playoff push. If Quaintance can play, San Antonio could field one of the scariest defensive lineups in the league, pairing the rookie with Wembanyama, Stephon Castle, and Bryant.
Maliq Brown and Gillespie are underrated pieces of the puzzle. They’re excellent two-way depth who can play niche roles. Brown as a defender and rim runner, and Gillespie as a fourth or fifth guard along with David Jones-Garcia.
San Antonio has an influx of impressive young talent. They are all well behind more veteran players on the depth chart, but could all make an impact at some point in the season.
