Spurs have a Keldon Johnson crisis that must be addressed after NBA Finals loss

The San Antonio Spurs watched Keldon Johnson struggle mightily in the NBA Finals and are left questioning if the reigning Sixth Man of the Year can help them in the playoffs moving forward. He averaged just 7.7 points and 3.3 rebounds in 17.9 minutes per game in the postseason. His production was way down, and head coach Mitch Johnson didn’t trust him in the most important moments. With Keldon entering the final year of his contract, it is time for San Antonio to move on.

There were calls to slash his minutes, but the head coach kept playing him 16-ish per game. The Spurs were 4.8 points per 100 possessions worse with him on the floor in the playoffs. Things got worse in the finals as Johnson put up just 4.4 points per game and made 34.8 percent of his 23 field goal attempts.

San Antonio’s offense was stuck in the mud in the NBA Finals. They averaged just 102 points per game and failed to crack 100 in two of the five contests. They needed scoring punch off the bench, but Dylan Harper was the only one providing it. Fans know Mitch Johnson won’t change, so the Spurs must move on from Keldon.

Spurs have a Keldon Johnson crisis after the NBA Finals

There are regular-season players and postseason players. Fans have had questions about Johnson for years. There were rumors throughout the rebuild, but the 6’6 forward settled in nicely as the sixth man. It allows him to get buckets and dominate second units during the regular season, but things change in the playoffs.

Teams are shortening their rotations and playing their stars more. It makes Keldon’s defense a problem and limits his scoring punch. His jumper has always been questionable, and the opposing team closes out a bit harder in the postseason. The result is a Sixth Man of the Year who struggles to score and shoots inefficiently.

Keldon is set to make $18 million next season before becoming an unrestricted free agent in the 2027 offseason. He likely wants a raise after winning the award and sacrificing for the team. With Victor Wembanyama’s max contract starting in the 2027-28 season, the Spurs will quickly get expensive. They can’t pay Johnson $20 million per year to be a non-factor in the playoffs.

What is Keldon’s trade value? He is no stranger to rumors, and his playoff struggles didn’t help him. Still, getting the reigning Sixth Man of the Year will interest rival teams. Johnson played well during the regular season, and the 26-year-old is just entering his prime.

San Antonio needs an upgrade capable of playing the four and adding to their versatility. Making that deal is easier said than done.

The San Antonio Spurs cannot afford to overpay Keldon Johnson and should look to trade his expiring contract for an upgrade. They should be focused on winning the title in 2027. Johnson didn’t help, so it is time to move on. Fans may not love it, but the Spurs have to make difficult decisions in building around Wemby. Sadly, this is one of them.

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