Spurs PF Keldon Johnson: Best Trade Chip in NBA?
The San Antonio Spurs are approaching a total reset of their roster. When they select Victor Wembanyama with the No. 1 overall pick, he will begin the foundation of the team's rebuild.
However, there are still players worth considering for the future that were on last year's roster. Jeremy Sochan is an obvious one, while Malaki Branham and Devin Vassell also warrant consideration for being part of the next Spurs core.
The jury's still out on whether Keldon Johnson should be part of the next great team, mainly due to his current price tag and trade value.
Bleacher Report listed Johnson as the sixth-best trade chip in the NBA ahead of the draft.
"Johnson can still bust out brute-force drives when given enough room and is a good enough set shooter to stretch defenses," Bleacher Report writes. "It's easy to envision him thriving on a team with a more proven primary creator and dependable three- to four-out spacing."
Statistically, the fourth-year vet averaged a career-high 22 points per game, leading the Spurs in scoring and finished among the highest on San Antonio's roster in defensive rebounds.
Outside of Wembanyama, Johnson is the best player on the Spurs roster, so letting him go now would be counter-productive for San Antonio's immediate future.
However, the Spurs could strike while the iron's hot and deal Johnson when his value is at its peak.
You can follow Jeremy Brener on Twitter @JeremyBrener.
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