The San Antonio Spurs made two first-round selections in the 2026 NBA Draft, and Tarris Reed Jr. is going to have to make an immediate impact to prove his worth.
The San Antonio Spurs took two big swings in the 2026 NBA Draft, picking Jayden Quaintance 20th overall, and then trading up into the first round to snag Tarris Reed Jr. 26th overall.
Both are oversized, physical frontcourt players. Reed spent four seasons in college and is an old-school, reliable center. Quaintance, on the other hand, was one of the youngest players in the draft and lost nearly two full college seasons to injury.
Reed relies on his size and experience to secure rebounds and make plays. Quaintance, pending a recovery from a torn ACL, is expected to be an athletic freak. He will miss most (or all) of his rookie season due to injury. Reed, since he's healthy, will have less time to prove himself.
Tarris Reed's Rookie Outlook Revealed
Reed is 23 years old, which is about as senior as possible for an NBA rookie, especially a first-round pick.
Presently, Reed, Victor Wembanyama, and Luke Kornet are the only real centers on the roster. The expectation is that Reed will be the third-string guy behind Kornet, although that doesn't mean he won't see plenty of action. He probably doesn't have the markings of a long-term starter, though.
No worries. Wembanyama has that job locked up.
"He is talented in multiple areas of the game, and his physicality is at an NBA level," wrote Benjamin Yu for Last Word on Sports. "However, one area that isn’t the best is Reed’s level of athleticism, as he is not the most explosive center. That lack of vertical athleticism may limit his potential as a rim protector and finisher, which would significantly hinder his impact."
In fairness, solid NBA players like Kornet, Ivica Zubac, Steven Adams, and Jakob Poeltl have carved out long careers despite a lack of athleticism. Most of them, though, have found other areas to excel.
Reed will have to identify his, and he might not be offered plenty of time to do it.
"Reed’s main expectation for his rookie year is to prove his athleticism won’t be an issue," Yu added. "If he can do that, Reed will likely have a spot in the rotation long-term and can immediately contribute as a third-string big behind Wembanyama and Luke Kornet. If not, then it will be difficult for Reed to find playing time due to his advanced age as a rookie and underwhelming performance."
Reed, Quaintance, Stephon Castle, Carter Bryant, and Dylan Harper are all on rookie contracts. The Spurs will eventually have to dole out extensions. Unless Reed can prive that he deserves one, he might be a one-contract guy. The Spurs won't be handing contracts out based on "potential."
