In a war of picks, Keldon Johnson could be the Trojan horse
There's still room to stay the course, but with the Thunder, Jazz and others lurking as competitors on the trade market, the Spurs have to be ready to jump when the right opportunity presents itself.
When the Spurs signed Keldon Johnson to a 4-year, potentially $80-million contract extension early last summer, the goal wasn’t simply to lock up a team-controlled asset they could use as trade bait at a later date. They’d tagged him as an integral part of their future — a leader both on and off the floor, and a player whose voice resonated beyond the yells and screams that make the highlight packages.
Johnson is an energizer, a confidence-booster who cares tremendously about the people around him, as well as his place both in the locker room and in the city of San Antonio. He took seriously the role that befell him at the start of what became a difficult 2022-23 season, when the Spurs needed someone — ANYONE — to score a basket at times, or to light a spark in the middle of a painful losing streak. And while he wore his emotions on his sleeves after every win or loss, he always returned to the practice court the next morning with consistent energy. The team thrived off his aura, and reciprocated as best it could.
Despite their record last season, and despite the uncomfortable approach toward tanking that eventually landed them in the fortunate position they find themselves today, the Spurs are no worse for wear as a group. And Johnson was one of the primary reasons for that.
“He was magnificent,” Pop said at the end of the season. “He widened his game, so to speak, as far as making decisions, being a passer, being a leader, all those things.”
But rewind the tape on the Dejounte Murray story and notice how quickly plans can change if the right offer slides across the table. There may be a million ways one can evaluate Johnson’s development and performance as a fill-in No. 1 option for the team’s 40-plus different starting lineups last season, but drastic improvement is necessary across the board even as the eventual selection of Victor Wembanyama completely changes the profile of this team.
Keldon could potentially be a wonderful fit going forward — the leadership dynamic would suggest it, as would his abilities as a slasher, cutter, glass-crasher, spot-up shooter (as long as he returns to form) and bully in the open court — but if the opportunity arises to acquire a game-changing on-ball orchestrator, the Spurs are going to have to listen closely.
There’s an asset battle coming, and in order to be the team that gets the most out of its war chest, San Antonio might have to make a sacrifice that’s beyond its usual level of comfort.
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