Spurs send clear message to Keldon Johnson they must stick to

The San Antonio Spurs may be done making offseason moves, which could leave a long-time Spurs future in limbo. Keldon Johnson is extension eligible this summer, but the Spurs don't appear likely to offer him one.

Especially after having re-signed Julian Champagnie to a 3-year deal. That move alone says a lot about the team's long-term plans.

They didn't have to give Champagnie a new deal but were concerned enough about him hitting free agency that they declined a cheap team option. San Antonio then gave him a new contract to keep Champagnie with the Spurs for the next three years.

Despite Johnson entering year eight with the Silver and Black, they haven't shown the same willingness with him.

Spurs send clear message to Keldon Johnson they must stick to

There is an obvious reason why the Spurs haven't extended Johnson—they can't afford to. If they were to extend him for more than what he is currently making, they'd be over the apron next season and perhaps every year in the near future.

Obviously, that isn't something the Spurs can afford to do. Instead, the Silver and Black may let his contract play out and see how things unfold.

I can see them letting him have one last year in San Antonio and hopefully winning a championship before letting him leave in free agency. Or, they could seek to package him and Harrison Barnes in hopes of landing an impact player.

In either scenario, San Antonio wouldn't give him an extension or a new contract.

The Spurs can't afford to re-sign Keldon Johnson

Hopefully, Johnson will have a strong year and help the Spurs win a championship next season. Even then, San Antonio probably wouldn't reconsider re-signing Johnson unless they could somehow get out from under De'Aaron Fox's contract.

That seems unlikely to happen. And given an option between the two, I suspect the Spurs would prefer to keep Fox and see if he can emerge as a true co-star. Granted, an overpaid one, but a co-star nonetheless.

That's not to say that Johnson isn't valuable to the Spurs; he most certainly is. Still, the emergence of Champagnie and the addition of Tobias Harris have lessened the need for him. Also, Dylan Harper might replace him as the Spurs' Sixth Man.

All told, given their financial constraints, the Spurs should stay the course and let next season play out without making a long-term commitment to Johnson.

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