Overview
- The Spurs selected Jayden Quaintance with the No. 20 pick on June 23, taking a long‑term swing on a former top‑10 talent whose draft slide was driven by serious knee injuries.
- Quaintance said he expects a follow‑up ‘clean‑up’ procedure this offseason and has been told the typical recovery timeline for that surgery is roughly six months, which may delay his rookie debut.
- San Antonio general manager Brian Wright acknowledged the medical risk and said the team will rely on its medical staff and take a patient, deliberate approach to Quaintance’s recovery and development.
- Draft analysts praised Quaintance as one of the best defenders in the class for his length, shot‑blocking and athleticism, but they uniformly flagged his ACL and meniscus history as the reason he fell to the late first round.
- The Spurs added depth with the selection of Tarris Reed at No. 26 to provide an NBA‑ready frontcourt option while Quaintance rehabs, and the franchise’s recent playoff run gives it roster flexibility to wait for a full recovery.