Tarris Reed Jr. records double-double vs. Lakers

Reed was quiet in his first summer league game, but he has now recorded a double-double in two straight outings. With Jayden Quaintance still recovering from a knee injury, Reed has a chance to be the backup to Victor Wembanyama in year one. He won’t play enough to be a consistent double-double producer, but if he’s able to make an impact on the glass in the non-Wemby minutes, he’ll be a valuable piece in year one.

Reed played two seasons at Michigan before transferring to UConn for his final two, and he would emerge as one of the best post players in college basketball during the Huskies’ run to the 2026 title game. In 35 appearances, the 6-foot-10 center averaged 14.7 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.9 steals and 2.0 blocks, shooting 60.7 percent from the field and 61.7 percent from the foul line. While he won’t offer much offensive production outside of the paint, Reed is a solid screen-setter who finishes well around the basket. He also offers reliable production as a rebounder and defender. While the Nuggets selected him, Reed will be headed to San Antonio. The Spurs did select Jayden Quaintance earlier in the first round, but he has some health concerns. Reed has the potential to earn consistent rotation minutes as a rookie. In exchange for this pick, Denver receives the No. 35 pick in the 2026 draft, a 2028 second via Minnesota and a 2031 second via Sacramento.

The 6-foot-9 Quaintance was one of the biggest question marks in his draft class, due to the status of his right knee. He suffered a torn ACL in February 2025 as a freshman at Arizona State and later transferred to Kentucky. Unfortunately, Quaintance played just four games last season before being shut down due to a lingering issue with the same knee. He looked healthy and reasonably explosive at his pro day, alleviating some of the concerns that teams may have had. While the upside is undeniable, it may take some time for the Spurs to see it realized. During his post-draft media availability, Quaintance said that he may need another procedure on his right knee, and it’s unknown when that would take place. He could be looking at a “redshirt” year, which eliminates his potential value in redraft leagues.