Tarris Reed Jr. has wasted little time making his preseason minutes count, and the Spurs rookie center is already hinting at a role that could matter next to Victor Wembanyama.
Reed has shown a mix of physicality and touch that stands out, especially when he’s working in the middle of the floor. That combination gives San Antonio something a little different, and it opens the door to a double-big look that could be far more dangerous than it first sounds.
Mitch Johnson has already used twin-big combinations, including Wemby and Luke Kornet last season. That pairing had its moments, giving the Spurs size on defense and some coordination on offense.
But Reed brings a different flavor. His game fills in areas where Kornet can run into problems, which gives Johnson another way to attack opponents with size.
At 7'4", Wembanyama remains one of the league’s most skilled centers. He has the handle, the passing touch and the ability to hurt teams both inside and from outside.
Reed doesn’t play with that same kind of all-around flash, but he brings real value in his own way. He’s a solid screener, can free teammates whether he’s on the ball or away from it, and uses his frame to muscle people under the rim for rebounds and paint scoring.
That contrast may be exactly what makes the pairing work. Wemby’s spacing and Reed’s interior game could create the kind of high-low action that lets two bigs share the floor without getting in each other’s way.
There’s also room for them to connect in the short roll. Reed can set the screen, catch it in the middle, and then find Wembanyama slipping behind his man into the dunker’s spot for a finish.
And there’s another wrinkle. The Alien can also be the initiator, bringing the ball up and running high pick-and-roll with Reed, using his passing to thread the ball through traffic and find the rookie rolling hard to the rim.
Reed may be a rookie, but he has a shot to become one of the Spurs’ most physical presence. He can win battles on the glass, score through contact and force defenders into mistakes around the basket. If San Antonio uses that double-big look, opposing coaches may be pushed into matching him with their stronger defenders just to keep him off the offensive boards and away from easy interior looks.
That matters for Wembanyama, who has often had more trouble against stronger bodies. It also ties back to one of the biggest offseason questions around the Spurs: how do they make the game easier for their superstar?
Reed may already be part of that answer. Putting him on the floor with Wembanyama doesn’t just add size - it could sharpen both players by letting each lean into what he does best.
In Other News...
Spurs Face A De'Aaron Fox Dilemma That Could Free Their Young Backcourt
A recent trade idea has put the Spurs in an interesting spot around DeAaron Fox, with the discussion centered less on what he has already done in San Antonio and more on how his presence shapes the rest of the roster. Bleacher Reports Greg Swartz floated a scenario involving Houston that would reshape both teams, and from the Spurs side it raises a familiar question for a rebuilding club: how much should fit matter when the long-term picture is still coming into focus?
For San Antonio, the bigger appeal may be what opens up behind Fox. A move like this would clear a path for Dylan Harper and Stephon Castle to share the backcourt, giving the Spurs a chance to lean further into their younger guards. It remains strictly speculative, and there is no indication either team is lining up to make it happen, but it is the sort of idea that naturally lingers because it speaks directly to the Spurs next phase. [Read more 🡒]
Spurs Opening Lineup Comes With One Immediate Problem Fans Can See
San Antonio has not yet gotten a look at the starting group it had in mind, with De'Aaron Fox sidelined by soreness and tightness keeping the intended lineup on hold. Even before a minute is played together, the unit stands out for its lack of size, a trait that could matter against bigger frontcourts and teams built to punish the glass, like Oklahoma City.
Tobias Harris is the one player in the mix who can help address that issue once he is fully back from a left calf strain. His presence would give the Spurs more rebounding and a little more size to work with, but for now the question is whether he is ready to be part of the answer when the season opens. [Read more 🡒]
Spurs Suddenly Need De'Aaron Fox For More Than Just Preseason Minutes
The Spurs have opened preseason with a pair of losses, even with Dylan Harper giving them reason to pay attention in both games. San Antonio has other established pieces in place already, with Keldon Johnson, Devin Vassell and Victor Wembanyama set in their roles, so the point guard spot remains the most interesting battle on the roster as the team sorts out its backcourt.
De'Aaron Fox's return to the starting lineup is now expected to matter for more than just getting him back into game shape. The Spurs need a little more edge and urgency in these exhibition games, and Fox brings a level of competitiveness that can sharpen the group while the staff evaluates how the guard rotation should settle. For now, he and Harper are the two names to watch as San Antonio decides what the pecking order looks like. [Read more 🡒]