4 Spurs that need monster second halves of the season to save their jobs

The regular season is more than two-thirds of the way done, and while most teams are battling for the playoffs, the San Antonio Spurs will probably be using that time to evaluate. San Antonio is on pace to win just 16 games, which would be the worst season in team history after setting it only last season.

As a result, the Spurs will have to figure out what to take away from this season, especially when it comes to their players. Most of them won't figure into the Spurs' next playoff team, but some will, and players will have to show and prove to stick around.

4) Tre Jones

Point guard Tre Jones has had an unusual path to starting this season. He was seen as the favorite to start entering the preseason but was surprisingly replaced by Jeremy Sochan, then Malaki Branham, in the starting lineup. Only after injuries and poor play from others did he finally start. The Spurs have been better for it, with the Jones starting lineup being +5.4 points per 100 possessions compared to -18.2 from the tall-ball lineup that started the season.

His playmaking has brought with it more consistency, though the Spurs could still use an upgrade at point guard. There are a few options in the draft, including Nikola Topic and Rob Dillingham, and in free agency, with Tyus Jones and D'Angelo Russell. San Antonio might use both one of their draft picks and some of their cap space to improve at point guard.

They also have Blake Wesley, who has begun to carve out a role and could accelerate the process by improving as a shooter this summer, something that Jones seemingly can't do. All of that leaves Jones' future up in the air, especially if the Spurs pursue Trae Young. Jones playing well to close the season might help his case; however, his ceiling as a player will always mean that he is capable of being upgraded.

3) Zach Collins

Starter turned fringe backup center Zach Collins has had the biggest fall of any Spurs player this season. He went from being seen as an underrated backup center to becoming a capable starter, even receiving an extension for two years and $35 million at the start of the season.

Collins will need to use the team's remaining games to play with more consistency. That may be harder for him to do since his once-promising 3-point shot has seemingly abandoned him and he has been bricking threes. The Spurs may also look to give Dom Barlow more minutes to see what he can do, limiting the opportunities for Collins to prove himself unless the team looks to rest Victor Wembanyama more.

Either way, Collins will have to play better to justify keeping him around, especially since he's a backup getting paid starter money, and San Antonio would be fine with a healthy Charles Bassey as Wembanyama's backup. The pressure is on him to play better, or he may be dealt this summer, with his contract potentially serving as a matching salary in a deal for Young.

2) Malaki Branham

Second-year guard Malaki Branham hasn't quite had the year that many Spurs fans were expecting him to have. After showing some promise during the second half of last season, he has struggled mightily this season, calling into question his future with the team. After being benched in favor of starting Jones, he has seen his minutes decrease with the emergence of fellow 2022 first-round pick Blake Wesley.

Fortunately for Branham, the Spurs will likely seek to give their younger players more minutes over the remainder of the season, and he could benefit from more playing time to try to work out his issues. That might not help the Spurs win games, but he could enter the offseason with some positive takeaways after a rough sophomore year.

Branham isn't at risk of being waived and probably doesn't have much trade value at the moment, so he will probably be back for his third season. But another year like this could force the Spurs to decline the final year of his rookie deal. Branham can help himself by proving that he can fill the role of bench scorer; otherwise, he won't have a role in the team going forward.

1) Keldon Johnson 

Prior to the start of the 2023–24 season, Keldon Johnson was projected to be the team's third-best player. He was for most of the season thus far before a slump cast doubt on his future with the team. After all, he is coming off the bench, and while he has generally played well in the second unit if he continues to struggle against opposing benches, then he might not have a future in San Antonio.

The Spurs were reportedly open to moving him earlier this season, and with rumors of a potential Trae Young deal, he could be included in that trade. Even if they don't trade him for Young, he could see the Spurs draft his replacement with possibly two top-10 picks at their disposal.

He still has 3 years remaining on his affordable deal, and they could look to move him again if the right deal comes along or they select a wing who steps in and is able to contribute immediately. Or, hopefully, Johnson can play more consistently over the last leg of the season, and the Spurs can justify keeping their longest-tenured player around going forward.