3 Spurs players who have no room for error in Popovich's rotation this season

The future is bright in San Antonio and fans are excited to see what the 2024-2025 season has in store. For some players though, they might not be as delighted, instead, they could be worried about losing their role on the team.

With a Spurs roster that is seemingly getting more crowded after two recent signings, some current players are on the hot seat. Coach Gregg Popovich is a wizard at putting the right players in the right position to be successful. However, if he does not see much potential in a certain player, he will not give them playing time and eventually force them out of San Antonio.

Let's dive in and highlight three players who are in jeopardy of losing playing time and cannot afford to fumble this season.

3. Julian Champagnie

Julian Champagnie is an unorthodox basketball player. He can create his shot, he uses his long arms to defend well, and at times, Champagnie can excel when attacking the basket. The former St. Johns star has a fair shooting stroke as well.

Champagnie first burst on the scene in 2022 after a standout stint in the summer league. He continued that success the very next summer. Champagnie played well enough to sign a 4-year, 12-million-dollar deal and a spot on the team last season. After having a consistent bench role, Champagnie averaged 7 points a game while shooting 39% from the floor and a superb 87% from the free-throw line.

By the numbers, Champagnie can be a fair bench option for the Spurs however, with the Spurs having more weapons on the team, this hurts Champagnie's chances to get playing time. The drafting of Harrison Ingram and the recent signing of Brandon Boston Jr (roster spot TBD) also prove that Champagnie has his back against the wall. The three players will battle for the backup small forward role behind Devin Vassell but Ingram and Boston Jr are far better athletically, giving them the edge.

Champagnie, if given play time, has to stand out above the rest, coming off the bench. Keldon Johnson and Zach Collins are likely the first two bench options going forward; however, Champagnie's consistency levels can push him to gain a bigger role. As a result, while surprising, Champagnie has one of the toughest hurdles to leapfrog on the whole team.

2. Keldon Johnson

Perhaps the most talked-about Spur in trade talks over the last two seasons, Keldon Johnson is on the hot seat in San Antonio. This off-season, trade talks revolving around Johnson were at an all-time high. The Spurs, however, have yet to find a suitor for Johnson, meaning he could be getting another season in San Antonio. If this is the case, Johnson is faced with a tough task.

Just two years ago, Johnson showed signs of stardom, averaging over 20 points per game. Last year, he had a significant dip in production (regardless of Victor Wembanyama's impact), proving that he might not be a focal point of this rotation. This fact was heightened after Johnson started coming off the bench last season.

Johnson will likely come off the bench for the majority of the upcoming season as well. This could benefit the Spurs, as Johnson's skill set is that of a successful NBA sixth man. His high energy and the ability to make a timely play on occasion could make him a valuable piece. If Johnson does get playing time, though, he has to prove that he can contribute to this team. His consistency levels need to improve too, as he is known to be all over the place on some nights. Johnson must also refrain from his frequently sloppy play on offense.

Johnson is a good basketball player; there is no doubt about it. Despite that, San Antonio might not see him in their long-term plans, and if he is not traded in the coming months, the pressure will be on him to play at a high level on a nightly basis. If he can't hold up his end of the bargain, the Spurs might let Johnson walk for next to nothing.

1. Tre Jones

Superb defense, a high motor, great instincts, and a team player. These attributes can describe Tre Jones' skill set in the NBA. A member of the Spurs since 2020, the once-Duke Blue Devil has brought a lot of good to this team.

Currently, the point guard position is quite crowded, which could make it hard for Jones to find a role this season. Chris Paul is in town to take the reigns of the offense, and rookie Stephon Castle is reportedly being groomed as the team's point guard of the future. Depending on where Castle starts at the beginning of the year, Jones could be the third point guard on the depth chart.

Jones is undersized and limited in some areas, making him a non-factor at the shooting guard position. Therefore, the point guard position is the only spot Jones could be played at, where it could be hard for him to find consistent minutes.

Jones played 28 minutes per game last season, but because of what is around him, expect to see a dip in playing time. Therefore, for the limited minutes Jones does get, he will have to display fearlessness on both ends of the floor. Jones is seemingly the perfect Spurs-type of player and he does the little things to win games. Seemingly though, San Antonio is going toward a backcourt that will elevate Wembanyama's game and Jones might not be able to do so.

Jones has the potential to be a firecracker off the bench for the team, and if he shows limited mistakes, he could be a part of the every-game rotation. This seems like a hard task with the team in place, so Jones will need to make the most of his opportunity. Set to become an unrestricted free agent next summer, either way you slice it, this could be Jones' final year in Alamo City.