Spurs need Mitch Johnson to keep players happy in sticky situations

The Spurs currently have more useful players than minutes to distribute. That's a luxury, sure, but it also creates a real coaching challenge that Mitch Johnson is tasked with figuring out.

De'Aaron Fox vs. Dylan Harper. Keldon Johnson vs. Carter Bryant. Luke Kornet vs. Tarris Reed Jr. All of these position battles could produce situations where one player watches his role shrink during the season.

That means Coach Johnson's job won't simply be about finding the best rotations—he'll have to manage the egos affected by his decisions. Clear expectations and honest communication from the start could prevent frustrations from becoming a real problem. But those things do have to happen if feelings start to get hurt.

Harper and Fox will create Mitch Johnson's toughest conversation

We have to remember that Fox specifically requested a trade to San Antonio to play alongside Victor Wembanyama. A move to the bench might carry extra emotional weight. Harper, meanwhile, is young enough that he should have patience if he has to wait for his opportunity.

However, the goal is to win games. The Spurs preach selflessness all the time, so that needs to apply to everyone. If Harper outplays Fox and shows that his presence on the floor gives the team a better chance to win, shouldn't Swipa be the one to take a step back willingly? That would be the selfless thing for the 2x All-Star to do.

Fox is still a high-level player and a veteran with expectations for his career, and that's fine. Mitch can't control whether the speedy point guard is disappointed, but he can control the communication, so it's understood why the decision was made and what De'Aaron's role would be going forward. That could be key to keeping the former Sacramento star invested.

The other rotation battle could test Johnson's people skills too

In the battle for backup wing minutes, you have Keldon Johnson and Carter Bryant. Keldon loves San Antonio and wants to remain a Spurs player forever, but Bryant's development could push him down the depth chart. Mitch has to make sure KJ doesn't feel discarded if the younger gun earns those minutes behind Devin Vassell, Tobias Harris, and Julian Champagnie.

Luke Kornet is the main backup behind Wemby right now, but he left much to be desired in the recent postseason run. Tarris Reed Jr. could walk right in and show he can do what Kornet can do, but with a little more athleticism and force. If Reed outplays Luke, the ex-Celtics champion might have some trouble with losing his minutes.

All of these situations are different, but they could have a similar impact. That can all be avoided by understanding a principle that applies to them all: players are more likely to accept difficult decisions when they understand the reason behind them.

Clear communication was always one of former coach Gregg Popovich's strongest traits. His protege will need to continue that trend to get the best out of each guy, no matter where the chips fall.

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