Keldon Johnson's training camp storyline has been miscontrued

The Spurs are set to start training camp in a few weeks, and there will be several storylines for fans to keep an eye on. But one of the less-talked-about dynamics is how San Antonio's competition in their forward rotation will lead to a change in Keldon Johnson's duties compared to last season—not a removal of them.

KJ's fresh off a well-deserved 6MOY campaign, averaging 13.2 points on 51% shooting and 36% from three in the regular season. But when you combine his glaring playoff struggles and the Spurs' deeper roster, it's clear that his role will be much more volatile this year.

So where does Johnson fit in San Antonio's rotation? It'll be difficult to cut him from the lineup altogether, but he definitely won't be featured in their offense the same way as last season. Those things will definitely be explored throughout training camp.

People put a lot of focus on trading Keldon Johnson

After Johnson's rough postseason performance, it was hard to ignore the constant social media buzz about San Antonio needing to trade him. Several fans made up their minds: Keldon wasn't fit to play for a contender.

I always thought that notion was ridiculous and extremely reactionary. Sure, he had his flaws, but this was his first playoff appearance. His struggles on that stage made a lot of sense given his lack of experience; it's very common for a player in his situation to have a tough go around during their first taste of postseason hoops.

That's why this storyline seems so underrated going into training camp. So much of the conversation this summer felt centered around why he no longer fit with the team. Instead, people could've been discussing ways he could improve next season and what role better optimizes his skill set.

Johnson is still a part of this squad. It's definitely worth having a conversation about how Mitch Johnson can utilize him in the rotation, regardless of how different his duties look compared to last season.

Keldon Johnson must prepare to relinquish some ball-handling duties

During his 6MOY campaign, KJ did an amazing job attacking defenders off the dribble to get downhill and finish at the rim. But with the addition of Tobias Harris and a more prominent role for Dylan Harper and possibly Carter Bryant, he'll lose some minutes and ball-handling duties. This means he must adapt and find other ways to make an impact.

He should focus on being a strong rebounder and defender for San Antonio while improving as a catch-and-shoot threat. Embracing those elements of the game will help him provide value in his minutes alongside players who will be asked to do a lot with the ball in their hands.

The good thing about Johnson is that he's always been a chameleon. He can blend into whichever role the Spurs need him to play, no matter how much he'll sacrifice or give up. He went from being a starter to a sixth man, opening the door for other teammates to shine. So asking him to shift duties again next season isn't unfamiliar.

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