Hot Take: Keldon Johnson Will NOT Be Traded!

1. Am I crazy with my logic or is Keldon outta here within a year? Either way I hope it works out for him, thanks for watching and GO SPURS GO!

2. Let’s gooo

3. Tsr hot take nobody will be traded. This will be our team till next summer

4. Spurs could trade Fox for Porter jr but would need to add a pick maybe it is revisited at trade deadline if Fox boosts his value the key thing I would look on a Fox trade is a backup guard behind Harper and Fox not making much or a vet on an expiring deal or team option snd getting back depth whether it is a wing who can start or backup Wemby or a center who can start or backup Wemby too

5. First, I believe Keldon will retire a Spur, and maybe have his jersey retired if we win enough championships, even as a bench player. Besides the reasons you state to keep him, despite his flaws, I don't agree with some ideas here:

   1. Keldon is 26, will turn 27 in Oct. He is a vet, but not a 30+ year old vet. He just won 6MOTY. He won't be offered less money, but I could see him taking a similar deal as the last one. His ranch is here, all that, he could take a bit less money to stay as well as do what Wemby did to help ensure the team can compete.
   2. He won't have a diminished role. CB will get more run, more at the 4, but JQ is basically out for the year (I still think JQ is going to be more a 4 than a 5, or him and Wemby together will blur that line when on the court), Reed will get some run at the 5, but our 2nd round picks will be mostly in Austin. Keldon will be one of the first off the bench.
   3. I do think he will learn from last year and evolve his game. He will always have limitations, but he was also the 29th pick so we drafted him to be a role player, which he is. I expect a better Keldon in next year's playoffs. Same as several other players
   4. I think we need to look past this season and see how he will fit long term. Fox gone before his deal ends and Harper a starter, depending on who we have, Keldon might be a 2 as much a 3 off the bench. I'm not expecting much draft luck in the future, but you never know with the new system and picks from other teams we have.

   Strangely, I think it more likely we trade Devin, as I could see teams hungry for him and he if Castle and Harper's shooting progresses, he becomes more redundant but still valuable. But that would hurt…he really showed up in the playoffs and proves he belongs there. I have faith others will rise to the challenge now it's understood and experienced, but Devin already did it.

6. Keldon was a significant part of the regular season success. He obviously had little or no impact during the playoffs. It was his first playoff so, for me, he gets a pass.

7. Historically, our Spurs have always been loyal to the team player that has stuck it out and gave their best years for us when they probably could have gotten paid more elsewhere. Keldon has been with us through the darkest years and never caused problems or asked for more than the Spurs were giving him. I think even if he's only played for 2 minutes a game, it would be bad for the Spurs to get rid of him unless he asked for it. It would go against our reputation of running the organization as a family rather than a cutthroat business. It's already difficult enough for a small market in a… what others consider, a boring city, to attract free agents, if we lose our reputation for loyalty and family, it would make things worse for us in the future.

8. Probably won’t get traded but will take off in free agency. He’s still young why would he take a paycut sheesh I wouldn’t when you can make more elsewhere 🤷🏻

9. That’s our Olympian!

10. I don't think he's valuable enough for other teams to trade for. He's more than likely taking a pay cut to stay otherwise he's gone.

11. He may stay now since this: Raptors Proposed to Land De’Aaron Fox in 3-Team Kyrie Irving Blockbuster Trade. Hmmmm?

12. KJ reminds me of Bonzi Wells. A guard who can grind it out down low and has decent at 3s. I think we’re counting out the fact that this was the first deep post season run for a lot of players on this team. We need to give them a chance

13. If he is the heart of the Spurs,the Spurs ain't ever winning shxt.Laters keldon,thanks for the one good year you gave the Spurs then flaked in the playoffs and finals.Only way,pay cut and reduced minutes.

14. At first I wanted him traded, but I want to see how he develops under Billy Donavan. I think Billy Donavan will find a role for all of our guys. I'm excited for the upcoming season!

15. Kelden Johnson Struggled in the playoffs, but it was his first time there too?? Let’s All Regroup Move On? Come Back Stronger 2026-27 💯🏀👍

16. When he signed that contract the idea was always to trade him at some point because of how easy it would be to match contracts. I’m honestly surprised he’s made it this far, however this upcoming season he’s never been as expendable as he is right now. The only way I see him staying with the spurs long term is if he takes a pay cut.

17. Come on KJ big body 🤠 🙌
    GSG

18. Fantastic take, Rich!

    He has value – on the court and in the locker room. I think you nailed it! Especially in his replacing Harrison Barnes’ role.

19. Clan spurs is very eager i mean very eager keldon getting traded🤣 coz his lovevy dovey sochan got traded !!! We need keldon on regular season and his revenge game on the playoffs and finals 2026-2027 !!! !!! I cant wait

20. I hope I’m wrong, but I think he might get traded or walk. Not sure he’s gonna want to take less money. Also anytime I queue up a jersey to buy, something happens. Murray, Primo and now possibly KJ

21. He'll probably stay (because Spurs nearly never sell high) but I predict most of his minutes (at least in the playoff) will be taken by Tobias Harris. Who can do the same as KJ but better, and have a positive impact on D (contrary to KJ)

22. He needs to go. There’s no spot for him in this team’s makeup. 6 MOTY brings that spark in the playoffs where it counts, but…….where was KJ. We, the fans, pay to have these guys bring chips, not to be the heart of a team. Millions of doallrs are what these guys get paid, to bring chips, not to be heartfelt stories.

23. I want traditional positions filled and I definitely agree KJ shouldn't play PF or C based on his size

24. You just listed all the reasons why he will likely be traded unless he adds dimensions to his game (better defense and/or less one dimensional offense) and accepts a smaller salary along with his likely shrinking role. I think he will be traded. He makes too much money for a feel good locker room guy and he just doesn’t fit into the team. His style of play would work at the 4, but he isn’t big enough to play power forward, he isn’t quick enough to play the wing, and he is not a good defender on a team whose calling card is defense.

25. That's not a hot take at all…. Even though a lot of us want him gone, we aren't the FO. Spurs aren't a trade-happy team. I don't expect a trade unless KJ requests it, which he won't. We might lose him in FA and it would make sense to trade him. But I don't think we will either, and definitely not a hot take.

26. People were promised a hot take so I'll give them one. SOCHAN IS BETTER THAN KELDON AND HAD A BIGGER, MORE POSITIVE IMPACT IN THE NBA FINALS.

27. If Johnson likes horses so much he should come to my ranch next time we round up the cows. LOL

28. He can’t be traded after the season, contract over

29. ❤ Keldon. When we were at our worst, he was a bright spot. I feel like moving on would be up to him. Meaning, he’ll be presented with a contract and up to him to take it or seek a higher paying contract elsewhere. I’d like to see improved rebounding and ball movement. Maybe even playing the heel role against other teams – letting ‘em know they ain’t sh!t

30. They will build Fox value and prepare for his exit without losing multiple draft picks.

    But with the rumor of Castle now being 6’8” maybe he changes positions making room for Harper as the starting point guard. This might limit his turn overs not being the primary ball handler.

31. I hope keldon and Vassel get a ring in SA

32. I heard that if you’re not getting extended, you’re getting traded.

33. Keldon is mr. San Antonio

34. Keldon is gone can't afford him especially when you drafted two first round picks with their salary. Spurs better trade him and not let him walk. Where's the playing time

35. Didn't he disappear in the playoffs

36. pretty sure he stays on a smaller contract

37. KJ is a solid player. He had a terrible post-season. He looked scared. He probably convinced himself that his peak was reached with 6MOY. Maybe this year he will upgrade his goals and be better. If not, he's gone in 2027

38. Spurs have a team salary of 202630000 durning the 2027-2028 nba season they only have around 9 million to add 3-4 players they probably going to ride with 3 because 4 players actually would put them over the luxary tax line and paying the luxary tax for a 15th player who wont even play makes no sense. Spurs can only offer Keldon Johnson the veteran minimum which is 3.7 million but 2.7 million is count toward the cap. Just like Lu Dort Keldon Johnson is not the player that you pay luxary tax to keep.

39. that's the issue with the spurs front office. they get to comfortable with these mediocre players and don't want to trade them. especially when they are not helping towards a championship! But Brian Wright has been making terrible decisions with fox then Barnes and Julian all trash players.

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