Jayden

Quaintance

A starter in both games he played at the California Classic, Reed recorded a double-double in Monday’s 88-84 defeat. And with fellow first-round pick Jayden Quaintance yet to play after revealing during his introductory press conference that he may need another procedure on his knee, the rookie out of UConn may be better equipped to compete for rotation minutes immediately. The Spurs won’t need Reed to be a prolific scorer, but his rebounding and defensive ability should give him an opportunity to contribute as a rookie.

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.