San Antonio fortified their frontcourt by gambling on Jayden Quaintance’s defensive upside and trading up for Tarris Reed Jr. Discover how these aggressive new additions graded out.
The San Antonio Spurs walked out of the 2026 NBA Draft with four players added, two from the first round and two from the second. ... and an accusation from a national media member that the emphasis on a certain style of play - toughness - will turn them into "cannibals.''
Wait. What?
The Spurs added Kentucky's Jayden Quaintance with the 20th pick, and traded up to snag UConn center Tarris Reed Jr. at 26th overall after rerouting two second-rounders to the Denver Nuggets.
During the second round, on Wednesday night, the Spurs remained focused on the frontcourt, picking Duke forward Maliq Brown 44th overall. Before that, they landed Tennessee's Ja’Kobi Gillespie 42nd, adding a playmaking depth piece.
We've got our Report Card for the picks ... and here, we shop-and-compare with the Spurs grades from The Athletic, which wonders, if this group is "duplicative in a way that could cannibalize the long-term values of these players.''
Hmmm ...
OUR VIEW ON Q: Before the college season, Quaintance was expected to be a marquee player, in large part thanks to his defensive excellence. Knee injuries held him back in his second college season, tanking his draft stock. The Spurs have the ability to be patient with his development, and are aware that he might not make his debut until around Christmas, depending on whether he opts for surgery or not.
At his best, Quaintance should be a defensive-minded starter who allows Wembanyama to roam on both sides of the ball. At worst, he should be a high-level bench player next to Kornet and Keldon Johnson.
OUR Jayden Quaintance pick grade: B+, solid forward with injury concerns.
THE ATHLETIC ON QUAINTANCE: Quaintance is a terrific defensive prospect whom I (@Sam_Vecenie) would have had a lottery grade on if not for the torn right ACL he suffered in February 2025 that has plagued him since. At his best, he’s one of the most instinctive, aggressive ball-screen defenders at the big position whom I’ve evaluated, confusing space and disrupting the opposition with his 7-foot-5 wingspan. However, several teams who spoke with The Athletic had Quaintance red-flagged on draft night because of his knee
OUR VIEW ON REED: Reed, also, will be tasked with holding down the frontcourt, although he's more of a replacement than an addition.
In the regular season, the Spurs used a jumbo-garbage-time-lineup of Bismack Biyombo, Kelly Olynyk, and Mason Plumlee. Having not one, but three third-string centers limited the versatility at the end of the bench. The prevailing hope in San Antonio is that Reed will be able to replace that trio of players at a fraction of the cost.
OUR Terris Reed pick grade: B, reliable backup on an already-oversized team.
THE ATHLETIC ON REED: San Antonio also traded back into the first round to get Reed, who had a great season at Connecticut. Essentially, the Spurs spent three second-rounders to acquire Reed, which feels like a fair price. He profiles as a strong backup center who is versatile on defense, can pass and will crush the glass. He’ll be ready to play early in his NBA career and will be on a cheap rookie scale deal for four years.
OUR VIEW ON GILLESPIE: Gillespie started his college career at Belmont before moving to Maryland, and then ending with the Volunteers. In his final season, he averaged an impressive 18.8 points and 5.4 assists while shooting 41 percent from 3-point range.
He's undersized and doesn't project to be a reliable NBA defender, although he can get the hot hand rather easily and can score off the bounce, as well. Picked 42nd overall, the Spurs took a flier on a big-time scorer who could provide a punch off the bench.
Expect him to be a major scorer in Summer League!
OUR Ja’Kobi Gillespie pick grade: A-, might not pan out in the NBA, but has a high upside.
THE ATHLETIC ON GILLESPIE: Gillespie is a guard who helps you win the possession game through his quick hands and sharp decision-making and can also shoot 3s. He looks like a potential replacement for Jordan McLaughlin.
OUR VIEW ON BROWN: Finally, at 44th overall, the Spurs stayed in the frontcourt, picking up Brown from Duke. In his senior season, Brown averaged only 4.9 points, but was a force in the paint, averaging 5.2 rebounds, mostly off the bench.
In 2026, he was named both the ACC's Defensive Player of the Year and Sixth Man of the Year. In the second round, grit can get you pretty far, and Brown has that in spades.
OUR Maliq Brown pick grade: B+, hope the offense turns into something reliable.
THE ATHLETIC ON BROWN: Brown is a player I really like. He has terrific hands and is exceptionally disruptive on defense as an undersized big. Brown, Quaintance and Reed can’t shoot, however, so it will be difficult to utilize all of them, even if Victor Wembanyama is one of the best shooting bigs in the NBA.
In the end, The Athletic gives the Spurs a B-minus, which is a tick lower than what we put on their Report Card.
