Spurs need Jayden Quaintance to improve his playmaking to unlock fit next to Wemby

There's a lot to be excited about with Jayden Quaintance's rookie season. The 19-year-old forward brings intriguing athleticism and staunch defense to the San Antonio Spurs, which could fuel another deep playoff run. But if this coaching staff emphasizes developing him as a passer and playmaker, it could open the door for a scary one-two punch between him and Victor Wembanyama.

The Spurs' unique depth gives Mitch Johnson a luxury that not every coach across the league has: he can get extremely creative with the lineups and combinations he puts on the floor. There's a plethora of options at each position that can be impactful in so many different ways.

Quaintance is one of those options. His size and defensive versatility are already a dangerous weapon, but if the Spurs can help him grow as a passer, he can bring even more to the table.

Jayden Quaintance's connective playmaking makes him a dangerous fit next to Wemby

Quaintance is not yet a reliable shot creator, floor-spacer, or overall scorer. So with those limitations, how does he become a difference-maker for this Spurs team on the offensive end? The answer is simple: becoming a solid connective playmaker could make him a threat to opponents, especially if he's sharing the court with Wemby.

Mitch Johnson should curate lineups with these two, pairing them alongside an initiator like Stephon Castle and good 3-point shooters. Here, Quaintance can set ball screens, catch in the short-roll, and demand attention from defenders with his athleticism and rim pressure.

Positioning Wemby in the dunker's spot or short corner would make him available for lobs from these actions. Quaintance would have the option to dish the ball out to perimeter shooters, who can fire up long-range shots or move the ball around and punish defenses that get stuck in rotation.

Now, Quaintance isn't an elite passer at his position yet, but he did show some decent flashes in that area on the collegiate level. So if the Spurs' coaching staff can focus on honing those skills, it'll go a long way for their offense.

This opens the door for a lethal defensive lineup

If Quaintance can excel as a connective playmaker alongside Wembanyama, Mitch Johnson won't have to worry about the fit between them. Their minutes on the floor together won't be a negative for the Spurs' offense. In effect, they'll have enough time to work in tandem on the defensive end. Opponents should be terrified at the mere thought of this.

Wemby's shot-blocking and rim protection, mixed with Quaintance's ability to guard the interior and switch onto quicker players, could make them one of the most devastating defensive duos in the NBA. Finding scoring opportunities against them will be a massive headache for opponents.

Role players are effective because they can excel in niche areas around stars. That's the case for Quaintance. This Spurs roster is stacked with talent, but he can still make an impact by focusing on dominating a few areas. His growth as a playmaker will open the door for so many opportunities on both ends for this team.

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