Huge Spurs mistake could be brewing if critics get their biggest wish

The San Antonio Spurs keep finding themselves in the middle of trade rumors involving stars. Whether they ultimately make a move remains to be seen, but a player that keeps coming up in those supposed trade talks has more than earned his way on the Spurs.

Keldon Johnson has seen his role change over his time with the Spurs, but he has always remained a core part of what they do. That makes trade rumors involving him somewhat puzzling.

While his declining contract, age, and solid production make him the ideal candidate to be traded in a blockbuster deal, keeping Johnson has its benefits too. Johnson is the longest-tenured Spurs player, with him set to return for his seventh season despite being just 25 years old.

That makes him a young veteran and something that is potentially invaluable. He also plays with a high energy level that is infectious, often helping to light a fire under his teammates. With San Antonio hoping to get back in contention next season, Johnson has the perfect opportunity to prove critics wrong.

Keldon Johnson could be a Sixth Man of the Year candidate next season

During the second half of the season, something clicked for Johnson, with him playing far better. In that span, he averaged an impressive 14.8 points in 25.1 minutes per game on a terrific 61.3% true shooting.

That display reinvigorated Spurs fans' belief in him. This after some had begun to lose hope that he could carve out a long-term role on a rapidly changing team. Whether he can play like that over a full season is a big question mark.

His biggest swing skill remains his 3-point shooting. Tracking his shooting percentages this season has been a challenging task. He has been below average in that regard, but in games where he's hit at least one three, he's averaged an impressive 15.6 points per game this season.

If he can be a respectable mid-volume 3-point shooter, then that could go a long way toward improving his efficiency and complementing his drive game. He, paired with a savvy playmaker in Dylan Harper in the second unit, could give San Antonio a boost that could help them stay in games and be more competitive next season.

Should Keldon Johnson be untouchable in trade talks?

Johnson clearly has value to the Spurs. If he can play like he did during the second half of the season going forward, then he could be the Spurs' next Sixth Man of the Year.

On the other hand, consistency has been a problem for Johnson, partly due to his struggles as a shooter. In games where his shot isn't falling and he's not able to get into the paint, he struggles to make much of an impact.

Of course, if he were able to do that consistently, then he would be at least an above-average starter. Being a great Sixth Man means providing a boost, and while he may not be able to do that every game he plays, being able to do that at least every other game still holds value.

Even so, the Spurs will likely have to make a trade either this summer or at the trade deadline to address their shooting woes. Adding Harper to the mix could exacerbate the shooting problems, and Johnson's inconsistency in that department doesn't help.

If Johnson gets off to a poor start and isn't able to have as much of an impact as he did post All-Star break, then he could theoretically be moved at the deadline in a deal to bring in more shooting. Most Spurs fans hope that doesn't happen, but that will depend on how he plays this season.

Hopefully, he can pick up where he left off this season, possibly resulting in Johnson entering the Sixth Man of the Year conversation. That would allow him to prove critics wrong in the process.