Spurs sign perfect Victor Wembanyama backup after trade with Nuggets

The San Antonio Spurs made several thought-provoking roster moves on Monday.

The wisest of them all was signing Victor Wembanyama’s perfect backup center after acquiring him from the Denver Nuggets during the NBA Draft.

“The San Antonio Spurs today announced that they have signed first-round selections Jayden Quaintance (20th overall) and Tarris Reed Jr. (26th overall), along with San Antonio’s second-round picks Ja’Kobi Gillespie (42nd overall) and Maliq Brown (44th overall),” the organization announced.

“Reed Jr., 6-10/270, appeared in 136 games (67 starts) over four seasons at Michigan (2022-24) and UConn (2024-26), averaging 9.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.50 blocks while shooting 59.1% from the field."

Although Reed fell short of a national title with the Huskies last year, he solidified himself as a high-caliber big man capable of being an impactful contributor at the next level. 

The 22-year-old undoubtedly enjoyed a successful senior season with the Huskies, showcasing his ability to overpower defenders in back-to-the-basket situations, free up teammates thanks to his forceful screening chops, rebound at a high clip, and hold his own as an interior defender.

Reed averaged 14.7 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game, shooting 60.7% from the field in 35 contests. While Luke Kornet is the more experienced backup center option for the Spurs, Reed’s versatile skill set suggests he should be in consideration for the role in 2026-27, at the very least.

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