Jayden Quaintance's rookie role could prove Spurs right about No. 20

One of the Spurs' biggest roster additions this summer was selecting Jayden Quaintance with the 20th overall pick in the draft. While San Antonio could bring him along slowly once he's cleared to play, he's still one of the biggest steals in his class. They'll lean on him as a defensive anchor off the bench while getting creative with the lineups he's featured in.

At 19 years old, Quaintaince is a great new piece to the Spurs' roster. He's a strong interior force, using his physical tools to finish aggressively at the rim while also protecting the paint on defense. He's the perfect fit for a team that hangs its hat on strong two-way production.

But there's a reason why he fell to the 20th spot in the draft despite being just as NBA-ready as several players picked above him. His complex injury history will be something to keep in mind as he gears up to start his rookie season, but that doesn't mean he won't be able to make an impact.

The Spurs can get creative with Quaintance while bringing him along slowly

When Jayden is cleared to play, it's likely Mitch Johnson and the rest of the Spurs' coaching staff will be careful with how they use him. Starting him off at around 9-10 minutes per game seems like an ideal amount of time for the rookie to get some rhythm without overextending himself.

Obviously, he'll be coming off the bench, acting as a rim protector and rebounder, but we could also see Mitch Johnson play him alongside Victor Wembanyama. Last year, the Spurs experimented with double-big lineups, so why not take some swings at it next season?

Not only can this formula create massive headaches for opposing offenses, but it also allows Jayden and Wemby to take pressure off each other's backs. It won't be up to one of them to take on rebounding and defensive assignments alone. They're also skilled enough to coexist on the scoring end.

This is a great approach to easing Quaintance in while putting his versatility to use. The Spurs will be tough to score on while simultaneously not putting too much on the rookie's shoulders.

San Antonio should pat themselves on the back for drafting Jayden

Jayden Quaintance could be a massive steal for the Spurs. Despite his injury history lowering his draft stock this summer, the young big man has all the tools to go down as the most high-impact defender in his class.

We may not see the full picture early on in his rookie campaign, but the Spurs' coaching staff could still put his skill set to the test. He fits in so well with their defensive culture and actually raises their ceiling on that side of the floor. Even if his minutes are small to start the season off, his presence will be felt.

If San Antonio plays their cards right, they can carve out a solid role for Quaintance while managing his workload so he's effective in the long run. It won't be an easy task, but striking that balance is important if they want to get the best out of him this season and beyond.

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