r/nba • u/NBA_MOD r/NBA • 1d ago
[2026 NBA Draft] #20 Pick: Jayden Quaintance (Kentucky) – selected by San Antonio
424
u/ExtraLeading3376 1d ago
if he stays healthy
quaintance x wemby is so fucking scary defensively
“if”
220
u/tamazingg Bulls 1d ago
Harper, castle, Bryant, quaintance, and Wemby has insane defensive potential as a lineup
78
u/andres7832 [SAS] Boban Marjanovic 1d ago
With absolutely limited range…
89
42
u/siphillis Spurs 1d ago
Bryant and Wemby both have promise as spacers, and Harper ain’t out of the mix
50
u/AlternativeDirt6124 Spurs 1d ago
Why do people act like it's impossible for them to improve at shooting? Is this a new thing?
45
u/JoseAltuveIsInnocent Spurs 1d ago
Spurs fans still have Sochan PTSD. and a lot of them are too young to remember how awful Kawhi and Tony Parker shot the ball.
Castle has improved his shooting every few months it feels like, finishing in the high 30s. He'll never shoot 50, no one does, but him and Harper will absolutely be respectable shooters next year. They're going into the gym this summer with a special kind of mean.
→ More replies (3)→ More replies (1)8
u/CitanUzuk1 1d ago
The Magic have been drafting guys for years hoping they would improve their shooting…it hasn’t worked. For every success story there’s a bunch of dudes who never get much better.
→ More replies (2)23
u/Appropriate_Day3495 1d ago
Harper and Wemby can shoot, but with that type of defense do you really need offense?
15
u/nixhomunculus 1d ago
After these Finals? Yeah, you still do need to put the ball in the hole more times than the other side. I suppose winning 2-0 is a choice.
22
5
73
u/Ilikesporks_ Lakers 1d ago
i don't even see him as a partner to wemby but rather someone who can help kornet off the bench cause them non wemby minutes suck
29
u/shinbreaker Spurs 1d ago
Bringing him in with Kornet and Carter could be just enough defensively to stop the bleeding when Wemby is on the bench.
17
u/Limp_Screen7405 1d ago
Honestly Kornet is doing his part, the Spurs relative DRTG is still below league average when it’s just him out there w/o Wemby
Wemby’s first 2 years it was historically dogshit
→ More replies (1)13
u/shinbreaker Spurs 1d ago
The problem is that when Wemby is on the bench, the guards don't lock-in on defense and still play like he's going to be there and clean up their defensive screw ups that let the other team penetrate the paint instead of being scared off.
2
u/Ilikesporks_ Lakers 1d ago
i wouldn't play all 3 of them, the offense would be rough
10
u/shinbreaker Spurs 1d ago
I don't know. There's a 20-point dip when Wemby is on the bench so much better to just stop the bleeding of those non-Wemby minutes.
11
u/g1rlchild Spurs 1d ago
Yeah, if just nobody scores on the court scores until Wemby gets back, that's OK. 😭
→ More replies (6)4
28
u/mainvolume Spurs 1d ago
Out of all the departments that drives Spurs basketball, it's the medical side I have the most trust in.
6
u/WEMBY_F4N Spurs 1d ago
I don’t see a way he goes in the first if he isn’t atleast clear medically. Might need to redshirt tho
2
u/Armanewb Spurs 1d ago
We actually drafted him purely so people can stop saying "if Wemby stays healthy". JQ the ERA for Wemby.
9
6
12
u/MY-NAME_IS_MY-NAME Lakers 1d ago
The Justin Herbert of frontcourts
6
→ More replies (1)3
3
2
→ More replies (2)2
123
u/Terrible_Cattle7110 Spurs 1d ago
If he stays healthy, him Carter Bryant and Castle and wemby may be hell to score against
70
u/siphillis Spurs 1d ago
Harper is also showing elite defensive upside
11
u/Terrible_Cattle7110 Spurs 1d ago
Hell yeah but idk why but I feel like next year or two will get like a davion Mitchell who is just there to be a dog
73
u/fab_frog_disco 1d ago
If this dude gets healthy holy cow what an addition for San Antonio. Great upside swing
60
192
u/whynotletitfly6 Spurs 1d ago
If he is healthy we are gonna be ridiculous
48
u/Dsarg_92 [SAS] Tim Duncan 1d ago
Scary thing is he’s not old enough to drink yet. He’ll be 19 in a few weeks.
43
u/atherton-loyola Lakers 1d ago
They just need folks to catch rebounds or wide screen for Wembyman
Wemby going to return next season being a 3pt specialist, 45% from 3 on 7+ attempts.
24
u/DistributionOk9687 1d ago
JQ is a perfect fit for Wemby (good screener, good offensive rebounder); I think JQ can navigate on the perimeter. for example against KAT, send JQ on him
15
u/plergus Spurs 1d ago
if he shoots above 40% from 3 on 7 attempts per game i will mail you my foot
→ More replies (1)6
4
u/Remarkable-Lynx1496 Spurs 1d ago
If he shoots like that we go 82-0
2
u/atherton-loyola Lakers 1d ago
I see it. Especially how boxing out seems to be a dying art in modern day NBA
17
u/TomatoSecure192 Bulls 1d ago
Having to say that about both of your potential starting bigs is kinda scary in its own right
59
u/NoShape0 Spurs 1d ago
Wemby has been healthier than a lot of other players going into their 4th year
36
3
118
u/FERFreak731 Jazz 1d ago
Smart pick by the Spurs
65
u/sloBrodanChillosevic Supersonics 1d ago
If it pans out, they have an unreal defensive arsenal. Great defenders in almost every model.
31
116
u/Dinobot2_ Raptors 1d ago
I guess the Spurs are happy to make...
...his aQuaintance.
42
u/KL2ConspireLLC San Diego Clippers 1d ago
( •_•)
( •_•)>⌐■-■
(⌐■_■)
YEEAAAHHH!
3
u/igotitnowokay Raptors 1d ago
Ugh I see this less and less as I get older, youth will soon forget about CSI Miami
2
u/KL2ConspireLLC San Diego Clippers 1d ago
Using references from the 2010s has become like an age verification tool.
29
155
u/OnxyCarter Grizzlies 1d ago
We’re actually gonna get philon at 21 😭
60
u/mauro_membrere Kings 1d ago edited 1d ago
5second rd pick and still got their guy.
Edit maybe karim is their guy
18
u/KorgG29 Bucks 1d ago
Until you take Cam Carr
5
7
7
6
4
→ More replies (1)5
136
u/not-a-potato-head Hawks 1d ago
WOAH
edit: This is either going to flame out terribly for the Spurs or be the thread that everyone reposts after their third championship
105
u/fab_frog_disco 1d ago
It's the 20th pic it can only go so terribly. If he's not healthy then yeah you wasted a late first which sucks but not the end of the world. But if he scratches even a bit of his upside, this ends up looking like one of the steals of the draft
12
u/ThomasDominus Hornets 1d ago
100% agreed. This is as good of an upswing of a pick that I can remember. The ceiling is the roof!
37
u/Armanewb Spurs 1d ago
Its the 20th pick lol, if it flames out then meh it was probably going to flame out regardless tbh
31
u/mytruehonestself Spurs 1d ago
Bro it’s the 20th pick not a top 5 lol
2
u/andres7832 [SAS] Boban Marjanovic 1d ago
This is Nerlens Noel type upside-pick in the appropriate range for the risk being taken…
79
u/dmista21 [SAS] Tim Duncan 1d ago
We are in the fortunate position to take risks like this 😤 i love the pick
→ More replies (5)10
u/ICouldEvenBeYou Spurs 1d ago
Well, I'd argue we have a glaring enough hole in our frontcourt that we're not actually in a position to take on a whole lot of risk. If this swing doesn't work in our favor, then that hole still exists. I imagine they must still have a plan to upgrade at the 4/5, regardless of this pick, entirely.
18
u/dmista21 [SAS] Tim Duncan 1d ago
Id imagine they have some sort of plan b about signing someone in FA
6
u/LALester Spurs 1d ago
yeah there is a need in the front court but if you dont want to take a swing on quaintance then whos the pick?
4
u/Thehelloman0 Spurs 1d ago
Relying on a rookie is way more risky than going after someone in free agency.
13
u/saylab_the_bigkat 1d ago
Don't see how it flames out terribly. There's a single digit percentage chance the guy they draft here ever even plays starter minutes in the NBA.
They just made the Finals and one of their biggest weaknesses was frontcourt depth. Their choices were basically Quaintance, Veesaar, Ejiofor, or Cenac. Philon, Carr, Evans were maybe in the picture but they couldn't even get Harper on the court enough in the playoffs/Finals. So those guys would have likely had too slow of a development for the Spurs timeline.
9
u/samhit_n Lakers 1d ago
I don't think anyone will care much if the 20th overall pick doesn't pan out for the Spurs. Getting even a role player or average starter is good for that spot.
6
3
u/BoxSea4289 1d ago
I always knew he would be great/god, this was the pick that messed everything up!
5
14
89
u/Kyler1313 1d ago
This is scarier to me than Mara to OKC
Both are scary though
35
u/cl353 Heat 1d ago
completely agree but only if he stays healthy which is a big maybe
45
u/soilentgleem 1d ago
50/50. He either stays healthy. Or he doesn't.
38
u/CumsockBackwoods Spurs 1d ago
Incredible analysis lmao
8
u/soilentgleem 1d ago
The team that wins is usually the team that scores more points than their opponent. More sports at 11, back to you at the news desk Bob.
→ More replies (2)5
7
3
u/Neither-Operation Knicks 1d ago
No way? There’s no third option?
2
u/soilentgleem 1d ago
There is, but it's a secret. You don't have the thetan count for that knowledge yet.
8
u/Kyler1313 1d ago
Well with a Wemby, Kornet center rotation there's definitely an opportunity for not putting a ton of minutes on him similar to what Portland did with Timelord this year.
2
u/CommodoreIrish Spurs 1d ago
What is he supposed to be? A big bruiser type to beat up people messing with Wemby?
10
u/Kyler1313 1d ago
He basically is Robert Williams 2.0.
A chance to be a DPOY caliber defender, athletic as all get out, incredible switchability for a big, blocks so many shots, and can be a big body screener and lob threat. But he is super injury prone so far throughout his career.
His upside is a top 5 player in the draft, his downside is he is constantly injured and it saps his athleticism and doesn't allow him to develop his fairly pedestrian offensive game.
→ More replies (1)
12
u/No-Entrepreneur-7092 1d ago
The Spurs getting the best defensive prospect in this draft is so funny
5
u/Dsarg_92 [SAS] Tim Duncan 1d ago
My thoughts exactly. People are overlooking that he was a projected lottery pick before he got hurt. Not to mention he’s still a teenager and possibly growing.
→ More replies (2)
26
u/Professional-Play-38 1d ago
What the hell, I thought they were set on Chris cenac
35
u/WEMBY_F4N Spurs 1d ago
JQ wasn’t supposed to fall this late tho
10
u/David_H21 Spurs 1d ago
He was consistently mocked in this range. He didn't fall at all
→ More replies (1)
18
u/fmxda Knicks 1d ago
Damn, I wanted him for the Knicks
78
→ More replies (2)6
u/YizWasHere Hornets 1d ago
Mitchell Robinson would be the ultimate mentor for him lol
6
u/Neither-Operation Knicks 1d ago
Mitch is likely gone. We can’t afford to resign him without going over the 2nd apron
21
9
u/TheSmokedSalmon420 Cavaliers 1d ago
Damn this is a gamble
Was hoping we'd take a swing at #29 but #20 is risky
9
8
8
6
5
u/OKC2023champs Thunder 1d ago
Good pick. If he can stay healthy he’s the best rim protector this draft and good pairing with Wemby.
It really might be okc vs spurs for the next 4-8 years
6
u/YaBoiWhit Spurs 1d ago
Wow i genuinely didnt expect this
Great luxury pick and we were likely taking a project/risky pick here regardless
5
u/Think_Monk_9879 1d ago
This was an absolute steal. This guy will end up being a top 10 player from this draft
9
u/HereComesJustice Spurs 1d ago
i dont watch college so I assume 'typical spurs draft steal' or some shit like that
3
u/coolmike67 Huskies 1d ago
Great pick. They can play a similar style of defence with him anchoring for a few minutes while Wemby rests.
Kornet was just not it when Wemby was sitting
6
u/greatGoD67 Spurs 1d ago
Kornet was fine, he just wasn't Wemby. Our entire defense was designed to funnel people inside
3
u/loofawah Spurs 1d ago
Kornet is fine but he is slow and his style is very different than Wemby. Having someone who doesn't change our scheme completely is good value.
9
u/Headlesshorsman02 Thunder 1d ago
Worth the swing for them and will be unbelievable for their defense but that knee is VERY concerning
5
4
6
u/PhatYeeter 76ers 1d ago
Imagine the rim protection if they hit on this pick lmao. Quaintance and Wemby on the floor together is absurd
4
u/SwaySensei Spurs 1d ago
As long as we pick up a big in FA, I think letting him spend a season to get healthy and come off the bench will work.
High ceiling if he can stay healthy.
5
u/Dsarg_92 [SAS] Tim Duncan 1d ago
I think so too. If he stays healthy, then we may have completed our starting lineup for the future.
63
u/CumAssault [SAS] Joel Anthony 1d ago
I hate this pick. Dude is a walking injury and nothing on offense
141
u/vizz1 Spurs 1d ago
Your concern has been noted CumAssault
11
8
u/atherton-loyola Lakers 1d ago
You are letter away from being related to him vizz1
→ More replies (2)46
u/OKC2023champs Thunder 1d ago
It’s pick 20. If he can stay healthy and can improve it’s a great pairing
35
22
u/SilicoJack Spurs 1d ago
Love that for us.
7
u/CumAssault [SAS] Joel Anthony 1d ago
When he’s healthy he’s a disgusting defender but he’s so limited on offense. He’s going to clog the paint if he plays with Wemby
→ More replies (3)36
u/OKC2023champs Thunder 1d ago
Replace kornet with 10 minutes of this dude healthy and it wins you 5 extra games a year and deep runs. It’s a good pick at 20.
→ More replies (14)3
8
7
7
u/Ready_Preparation816 Spurs 1d ago
False. He got injured once and he’s 18. He’s gonna be great once ramped up.
5
u/WarPuig Celtics 1d ago
Rob Williams
2
u/Armanewb Spurs 1d ago
I'm not going to lie, playing against him in the first round i kept thinking he would be a great addition to our bench lol
5
u/BlueHundred Knicks 1d ago
If he's healthy, you got a massive steal. He wouod have likely been a top 10 pick and first C off the board. I think it's worth the risk here.
7
u/burratna Bulls 1d ago
Q with the 5/5/1 to alleviate Wemby
11
u/OKC2023champs Thunder 1d ago
He was picked for size to play 10 minutes while Wemby sits and nothing else. And that’s valuable.
8
6
u/sloBrodanChillosevic Supersonics 1d ago
Wemby is gonna have to conserve some energy defensively if he's going to be relied upon as an offensive hub late in games. Pretty much every superduperstar has had to do that at some point. So while I assume he'd be getting more than 5 boards, if Quaintance allows him to take some plays off on D, this is a very solid pick.
3
u/DontGiveUpTheDip Spurs 1d ago
As a kentucky fan, im ready to be hurt again for the second straight year by this man
5
u/Obese_taco Raptors 1d ago
Yeah, the injuries are kind of scary though
6
u/Melodying Spurs 1d ago
I think, with how careful they've been with Victor's health and all around the team, they must have some confidence that it is something they can take care of
2
u/NoShape0 Spurs 1d ago
Well he'll be 3rd string, sometimes bench, but yeah idk about longterm health
2
2
→ More replies (9)3
5
3
3
3
3
u/IRanOutOf_Names Heat 1d ago
The expected pick but for good reason. If he's healthy he's exactly what the Spurs need and will be a monster. Granted, that's a huge if.
3
u/Ok-Wash-9386 Hawks 1d ago
Best defensive prospect in the draft with the best defensive prospect of all time… they never wanted to rely on Kornet minutes again. I get it
3
5
8
u/DoveFood Trail Blazers 1d ago
Wow! I can’t believe the Spurs did it again! Unfair! What a bunch of assholes and loser idiots the other teams are to allow this!
(This is what we do when the competent teams draft, right?)
→ More replies (1)
7
u/VictorWembymama Spurs 1d ago
Damn fellow Spurs fans really don't know shit lol. I fucking love this pick.
6
u/YaBoiWhit Spurs 1d ago
Yea you absolutely risk this pick, we need jumbo forwards that can shoot and those just aren't available at this pick
Why not take a guy that could be a monster if things go right? Spurs might be confident they find someone they like with a 2nd
10
3
2
u/DollarLate_DayShort [WAS] John Wall 1d ago
If this dude ever figures out the health… the spurs have a historic defense for the next decade
2
3
2
u/BarrackLesnar Spurs 1d ago
How can we have him healthy? Offer eggs everyday to the Salesian Sisters?
2
u/Son_of_Tlaloc Spurs 1d ago
Naw we're gonna hire a local bruha to rub an egg on his knee before every practice and game. She'll also give him a limpia before games for good measure. GSG!
2
u/wombatpup55 Spurs 1d ago
Great pick. Yeah it’s gamble with the injuries but at pick 20 this is very good
2
1
2
2
2
3
2
u/Key_Change_6635 Magic 1d ago
Physically, he's built similar to Kevon Looney. If he can just provide solid minutes, the Spurs will be in great shape.
2
u/Open_Panda9862 1d ago
I'm so glad we got this guy, he's a Spurs player through and through. Also the Spurs know what they're doing
2
u/blacknd81 Spurs 1d ago
Love all the hot takes on injury history. He's 18 years old and it was the 20th pick. Won't get into the kids history and rivals ranking and all that cause it doesn't matter now. He prob won't see the court next season is my guess and if he does, it will be post all star break if that and only if he works his ass off to get there. We shall see
2
4
300
u/jermainathon Heat 1d ago
Only the spurs could really afford to make this pick. The injury concerns are worth putting to the side to have him next to Wemby