The San Antonio Spurs arrived to the NBA Finals ahead of schedule this season after knocking off the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder.
When they got there, they weren't ready as the New York Knicks staged repeated comebacks to beat the Spurs in five games for the NBA championship.
During the NBA Draft on Tuesday, they made moves to get significantly tougher on the front line with a pair of first-round picks.
With the 20th pick they added size and strength up front by selecting 6-9 Kentucky forward Jayden Quaintance, who averaged 9.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.6 blocks and 1.1 steals per game per game as a freshman for Arizona State.
They then reportedly traded up to acquire the 26th pick from the Denver Nuggets to select UConn's Tarris Reed Jr., a 6-10 throwback center who averaged 14.7 points, 9 rebounds and 2 blocks as a senior.
For Spurs fans with nightmares of OG Anunoby knifing untouched to the bucket for the game-winning tip-in in Game 4, this is a welcome sight — even if one of the picks is a gamble.
Quaintance's health is a concern
Quaintance may not be able to contribute immediately or consistently as a rookie. He played just four games at Kentucky as a sophomore after transferring from Arizona State due to a devastating right knee injury he sustained in February 2025 that included an ACL tear, meniscus tear and a fracture.
He returned to live basketball with Kentucky in December, but continued to experience ongoing complications with the knee. The Spurs are betting on his recovery and his upside to be a defensive force alongside Victor Wembanyama on the frontline.
After being drafted, Quaintance told reporters he's "not sure" if he'll be ready to play by training camp. Per Spurs beat writer Matt Guzman, he said that he still feels "a little pain" in his knee, but that he is "feeling better."
In 24 games at Arizona State as a freshman before his injury, Quaintance averaged 9.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.6 blocks and 1.1 steals per game. If he can recover and return to that form, he could pair with Wembnayama for perhaps the most intimidating defensive frontline in the NBA.
With the pick, the Spurs are demonstrating patience and a long-term view rather than overreacting to their shortcomings that surfaced against the Knicks.
In Reed, they get a shot-blocker and rebounder with a winning pedigree who could give them another strong defensive presence when Wembanyama’s not on the floor.
