Tarris Reed Jr. didn’t just land in the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft - he landed in one of the cleanest situations any young big could ask for. The former Husky is now a San Antonio Spur, and the fit is obvious from the jump: a smart organization, a clear role, and a roster that needs exactly what he brings.
San Antonio has built a reputation for finding and developing talent, and Reed is stepping into that kind of environment with another former Husky in Steph Castle already there. For a player whose stock climbed quietly in recent weeks because of his measurements and workouts, ending up with the Spurs feels like a sharp turn in the right direction.
The need is real, too. Backup center Luke Kornet is in year two of a $41 million deal, and while he gave San Antonio six points and six rebounds per game in a career-high 21 minutes last season, that dropped to 3.7 points in 13 minutes during the playoffs.
The Spurs wanted more than size behind Wemby. They needed someone who could score, move, and hold up defensively when the game got stretched.
That’s where Reed comes in.
He’s already a solid post scorer, and that part of his game should carry over even if the touches shrink at the next level. The bigger swing is whether he can become a dependable roll-and-cut big.
If that comes along, his ceiling changes fast. Even if it doesn’t, there’s a path for him to eat into Kornet’s minutes right away as a rookie.
Reed also arrives after making major defensive progress in year two under Hurley, where the scrutiny on his big men is intense. He already had the mobility to stay with quicker players and the length to recover. Now he’s reading angles and defenses better, which makes him a much more complete option than he was before.
San Antonio’s draft approach at center made that plan even clearer. Six picks before Reed, the Spurs took 6’10 Kentucky big Jaiden Quaintance, who is coming off meniscus surgery and played only four games last season.
Quaintance has the profile of a skilled two-way rim protector, but his availability is still up in the air. Reed, by contrast, is the more proven option for now, which gives the Spurs a way to let Quaintance recover without forcing the issue.
That’s also why Reed’s arrival matters so much. There are no other backup bigs on the roster beyond Kornet and Quaintance, and San Antonio traded up to get him. The message is pretty straightforward: there’s a job waiting.
He’s already started to make his case in Summer League. In the first game over the weekend, Reed put up 10 points on 3-of-10 shooting with seven rebounds in 27 minutes. He followed that with his first professional double-double, scoring 12 points on 10 shots and grabbing 12 rebounds.
For UConn fans, the hope is always the same when one of their guys reaches the league: give him a plan. Reed has one. The Spurs want to beef up around Wemby, and Reed is part of that effort, alongside Quaintance, to build a bench that can protect the superstar and keep the frontcourt honest.
In Other News...
UConn Is Already Getting Doubted In Jason Candles First Season
Jason Candles first season in Storrs is arriving with plenty of questions attached, and not just because he is taking over after Jim Moras departure. UConn is trying to replace major production on offense, including quarterback Joe Fagnano and wide receiver Skyler Bell, who was drafted by the Buffalo Bills, while also staring at a schedule that brings in Syracuse, North Carolina, Maryland and James Madison.
The outside perception has not exactly softened those concerns. Even before a snap is played, the Huskies are being treated like a team with little proven star power, and that kind of skepticism tends to follow a program until somebody on the roster forces a change in the conversation. Candle now has the task of making sure UConn is not defined by who left, but by who steps up next. [Read more 🡒]
Several Former Huskies Are Suddenly Forcing NBA Teams To Notice
Former Huskies made a noticeable imprint in Las Vegas during the 2026 NBA Summer League, with Liam McNeeley, Tarris Reed and Tristen Newton all giving pro teams something to think about. McNeeley led the way for Charlotte in a win over Orlando, while Reed kept stacking productive games in the paint and Newton brought energy on both ends for Houston.
For UConn, the bigger picture is starting to come into focus: these are not just alumni getting run in July, they are players trying to carve out real NBA roles. McNeeleys scoring burst, Reeds work on the glass and Newtons two-way impact all pointed in that direction, and the next question is how much more each can turn that summer momentum into when the games start to count. [Read more 🡒]
UConn Fans Should Stay Patient With Alex Karaban's Quiet NBA Start
Alex Karabans first taste of NBA Summer League has been a little quieter than UConn fans probably expected, but there is a simple explanation for it. The Sacramento Kings took him 29th overall in the 2026 draft, and his early work has come in limited minutes as he gets his footing and starts learning a new system after spending five years in Dan Hurleys program.
The bigger picture here is still the one that matters for UConn followers: this is a ramp-up, not a verdict. Karaban has only been in two games so far, and the Kings have every reason to be cautious as he continues to adjust to the pro game, especially with his early availability shaped by a brief practice absence and a measured approach to his workload. [Read more 🡒]