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With the 2026 NBA draft fast approaching, the first round is on June 23, now's the time to look at some potential options for the Philadelphia 76ers with the No. 22 pick. If one wants to look at Sixers Wire's draft big board, one can do so here.
This series will focus on specific players. The Sixers have a first-round pick thanks to the Jared McCain trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder via the Houston Rockets. After a trip to Round 2 of the playoffs, the Sixers have an opportunity to add to the roster and get themselves another talented young piece around Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe for the future.
Up next in this series is Kentucky big man Jayden Quaintance:
Limited to just four games in the 2025-26 season due to complications from a torn ACL and meniscus that he suffered in his freshman season at Arizona State, there are injury concerns for Quaintance, but the physical tools are hard to deny. He has an NBA-ready body at 6-foot-10 and a 7-foot-5 wingspan that will allow him to overpower opponents and be a defensive menace around the basket. In 24 games for Arizona State before the injury, he averaged 9.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, 1.1 steals, and 2.6 blocks. He showed flashes of that at Kentucky before the complications from the injury popped up.
For a team that already has injury concerns (see Embiid, Joel), it may not want to take on another one in Quaintance, but he should be considered at No. 22. He is an elite rebounder, he can finish at the rim as he knows his role on the offensive end, and he can be a regular rotation piece due to that knowledge. He sets good screens, rolls hard, has soft hands, and can finish at the basket, which would be a good weapon to have for guys like Maxey and Edgecombe.
The obvious concern is the aforementioned injury. Quaintance being limited to just four games in 2025-26 should scare teams, but he's oozing with potential and there is a lot that he can bring to the table. In terms of his actual basketball weaknesses, he isn't much of a shooter as he struggled from the 3-point line and the free-throw line. His biggest strengths come on the defensive end and as a lob threat, but his weaknesses come on the offensive end in terms of knocking down jumpers and at the charity stripe. If he could turn into a bruising big, a la Mitchell Robinson, he would be a welcome addition to any team.
As mentioned plenty of times in this draft process, the Sixers need help off the bench. Quaintance fits the need of a legitimate big man off the bench and giving Philadelphia a physical rebounder, who can attack the glass and be a reliable roller off screens. He would make an immediate impact if he were to be chosen for Philadelphia.
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: 2026 NBA draft profiles: Philadelphia 76ers prospect Jayden Quaintance
Continue reading...
This series will focus on specific players. The Sixers have a first-round pick thanks to the Jared McCain trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder via the Houston Rockets. After a trip to Round 2 of the playoffs, the Sixers have an opportunity to add to the roster and get themselves another talented young piece around Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe for the future.
Up next in this series is Kentucky big man Jayden Quaintance:
Strengths
Limited to just four games in the 2025-26 season due to complications from a torn ACL and meniscus that he suffered in his freshman season at Arizona State, there are injury concerns for Quaintance, but the physical tools are hard to deny. He has an NBA-ready body at 6-foot-10 and a 7-foot-5 wingspan that will allow him to overpower opponents and be a defensive menace around the basket. In 24 games for Arizona State before the injury, he averaged 9.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, 1.1 steals, and 2.6 blocks. He showed flashes of that at Kentucky before the complications from the injury popped up.
For a team that already has injury concerns (see Embiid, Joel), it may not want to take on another one in Quaintance, but he should be considered at No. 22. He is an elite rebounder, he can finish at the rim as he knows his role on the offensive end, and he can be a regular rotation piece due to that knowledge. He sets good screens, rolls hard, has soft hands, and can finish at the basket, which would be a good weapon to have for guys like Maxey and Edgecombe.
Weaknesses
The obvious concern is the aforementioned injury. Quaintance being limited to just four games in 2025-26 should scare teams, but he's oozing with potential and there is a lot that he can bring to the table. In terms of his actual basketball weaknesses, he isn't much of a shooter as he struggled from the 3-point line and the free-throw line. His biggest strengths come on the defensive end and as a lob threat, but his weaknesses come on the offensive end in terms of knocking down jumpers and at the charity stripe. If he could turn into a bruising big, a la Mitchell Robinson, he would be a welcome addition to any team.
Potential fit on the Sixers
As mentioned plenty of times in this draft process, the Sixers need help off the bench. Quaintance fits the need of a legitimate big man off the bench and giving Philadelphia a physical rebounder, who can attack the glass and be a reliable roller off screens. He would make an immediate impact if he were to be chosen for Philadelphia.
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: 2026 NBA draft profiles: Philadelphia 76ers prospect Jayden Quaintance
Continue reading...
