Tarris Reed Jr. is getting an education most rookies never see.
Before he has played a real minute for the Spurs, the late first-round pick is already spending every practice trying to solve Victor Wembanyama, the league’s toughest shot-blocking assignment and the first unanimous DPOY. That daily matchup has quickly become the most revealing part of Reed’s early NBA experience.
De'Aaron Fox had praise for the ex-UConn big man when San Antonio Express-News' Tom Orsborn asked about Reed after training camp practice on Friday, October 2. Fox said, "I think he's been great...
He has the body of an NBA player. Not a lot of guys are built the way he is.
And obviously, just playing against Vic every day is no easy feat, but he's continuing to get better."
That is the challenge in a nutshell. Reed is getting thrown into the fire against a defender who punishes sloppy finishes, rushed decisions and weak contact. If he can learn how to create clean looks against Wembanyama, there’s a decent case that lesser NBA defenders will feel more manageable.
There’s an obvious “iron sharpens iron” feel to it, but the real question is what Reed does with the reps. Experience only matters if it turns into production. That’s what will be worth watching if Mitch Johnson gives the number 26 overall pick a chance early in the season.
The Spurs don’t need Reed to walk in and become a polished scorer right away. What they need is patience, plus a better feel for when his chances come. Rushing shots and failing to use his mass properly will only lead to misses or blocked attempts, and Wembanyama is built to punish that kind of mistake over and over.
Those reps should be teaching Reed where he can operate, how to free himself, and how to help teammates get quality looks, too. San Antonio has veteran voices in the locker room, but it also has a young group that is smart, capable and willing to help.
Maybe the lessons never fully translate. Late first-round picks miss all the time, and being a decent practice test for Wembanyama does not automatically make someone an NBA center. Still, Reed is getting a head start most rookies don’t get, with the hardest tutor in the league waiting for him every day.
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San Antonio is still sorting out its broader rotation and the competition around the perimeter figures to stay lively, especially with Harrison Barnes back in the fold and several young guards and wings pushing for minutes. The coaching staff has been tweaked as well, so Champagnies new deal says as much about what the Spurs already trust in him as it does about how much jostling still lies ahead. [Read more 🡒]
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Barnes, meanwhile, is back on a one-year deal and likely fits as a depth piece unless the season takes a different turn. For San Antonio, that makes the preseason more than a chance to get legs under the roster - it is a first look at how the Spurs want to deploy veterans who could shape the season in different ways. If those roles do not settle quickly, the front office may have more options, and more decisions, than it would prefer this early. [Read more 🡒]
Stephon Castle Just Got A New Challenge The Spurs Cant Ignore
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There is a flip side for San Antonio, though, and it could matter just as much. If officials are more willing to call those push-offs on offense, Castle should also get a bit more freedom on the other end, where staying attached to ballhandlers is already a tough assignment. For a young guard trying to sharpen his edge, it is the sort of rule change that can force a quick reset while also offering a small reward if he can adapt fast enough. [Read more 🡒]