3 Spurs players on the hot seat as preseason looms

San Antonio Spurs preseason is set to tip off on October 8th, and for three players, it could be especially important to their future with the team. Several players face uncertain futures, and the preseason will give the Spurs an early glimpse at how they will play this season.

Next, let's take a look at three Spurs players on the hot seat heading into the preseason.

Spurs players on the hot seat: Keldon Johnson

Long-time Spurs player Keldon Johnson is set to enter his eighth season with the team, but this year could be his last in San Antonio. Johnson has yet to receive an extension and likely won't ahead of a contract year.

That puts more pressure on Johnson to perform, and he is coming off a bad playoff run. Worse yet, he may have his minutes cut with the addition of Tobias Harris and Carter Bryant nipping at his heels. There's hope for Johnson, however.

He is one of the few players in the NBA who could make a big impact while playing only around 20 minutes per game. Especially during the regular season where Johnson provides instant energy off the bench.

Of course, how he plays in preseason will set the tone for how he'll play this year. If he reverts back to the same frustrating player he was, then he could find himself on the trade block ahead of the February deadline.

However, if he plays like he did last regular season, then he can stick around for all of this season and perhaps even longer.

Spurs players on the hot seat: De'Aaron Fox

Spurs star De'Aaron Fox might be on the hot seat, despite starting a max contract this season. The Spurs haven't shown a willingness to trade Fox despite an ugly showing in the NBA Finals, but they need him to hit the ground running beginning in training camp.

The Spurs aren't going to trade him or cut him for a poor preseason showing, but if he continues to underperform, then it could persuade the team to consider moving him. Moving him would be much easier said than done if he struggles during preseason, and they may not find a taker without giving up multiple first-round picks.

We all want to avoid that, and hopefully Fox comes back ready to play. A bounce-back season would help San Antonio in more ways than one. Him playing much more like the Sacramento Kings version of himself, who can get to the rim at will and bend defenses while freeing up shooters, would be massive.

Him being even 10% better than he was last season could make this team far better. If he isn't, then that could spell trouble for Fox's future in San Antonio.

Spurs players on the hot seat: Harrison Barnes

The return of veteran Harrison Barnes came as a bit of a surprise to some Spurs fans who expected last season to be his last with the team. He's back, however, on a one-year deal but will likely be more of a depth piece rather than a rotation player.

His playing behind Julian Champagnie and Tobias Harris gives the Spurs depth at power forward—a position that has long been a problem for the team. While he definitely struggled at times last season, he actually played well after being demoted from the starting five. As a third option at power forward, he's more than fine.

However, his $8 million expiring contract, paired with Johnson's expiring $17.5 million salary, could net the Spurs a big fish at the trade deadline. That wouldn't be something that Barnes can control, but his spot on the team is tenuous heading into the preseason as a result.

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