Not long ago, Devin Vassell and Keldon Johnson were the Spurs’ best players. The team was awful during that season, but the two homegrown talents put up numbers and looked like young up-and-comers. Both got long-term deals and seemed to be part of the core.
How quickly things change in the NBA. The arrival of Victor Wembanyama in the draft and De’Aaron Fox through trade completely altered the team’s hierarchy. It was the plan all along to bring guys who were better than the ones who presided over
tanking seasons, but it’s still surprising how quickly Johnson and Vassell went from lynchpins to now entering make-or-break seasons.
To say that the two young veterans are playing for their NBA future would be an overstatement, but this year could determine how significant a role they will play in San Antonio’s next great team or whether they are potential trade pieces. The Spurs should hope that they thrive because their season could be much more successful if they do.
Johnson and Vassell are vastly different players, but the best version of both could be massively helpful for the 2024/25 Spurs. Johnson, the longest tenured player on the team and a gold medalist with Team USA, saw the ups and downs of the pre-Wemby era and adapted to any role asked of him, from bit player who found a place in the rotation at the bubble, to offensive centerpiece when the team stripped things down, and now to sixth-man duties. He’s clearly respected by his teammates and the coaching staff and front office. For a franchise that values continuity and a team-first attitude, Johnson is valuable even when he’s not on the floor.
As a player, the fit is not as seamless, but not terrible, either. The Spurs need wing shooters. Johnson is not the most reliable at it, but he shot 40 percent from outside on almost 400 attempts three years ago, which shows that he can make threes. The 30 percent he shot on catch-and-shoot opportunities last season seems to be an aberration, as he shot 35 percent on higher on those looks on the prior three years. Johnson is also good off-ball because he’s a good scorer on drives who thrives when he can catch the ball already in motion. In a smaller role next to creators, he could have an efficient scoring season.
Vassell could similarly find an ideal role by getting less responsibility. He has a deadly jumper and improved massively as a finisher year over year, but he always seemed better suited to be a third option rather than an offensive engine. With Wembanyama and Fox in tow, he could settle in as a floor spacer who offers shot creation in a pinch and can take over a bigger offensive load with bench units. His defense perked up late last season, and if saving energy on the other end allows him to live up to his potential as a disruptive team defender, he could be exactly the type of player that helps round out the starting lineup and other shooting-starved units.
He also represents the best opportunity for the Spurs to have a third linchpin for much less than the max in the short term. Vassell signed an onerous but reasonable extension that features incentives like finishing top 15 in the league in three-pointers made or making an All-NBA team. Those are considered unlikely for good reason, but if he reaches those heights, San Antonio should be happy to pay a little more for the perfect third piece that would allow them to field a competitive team without having to add another star on a massive contract through free agency or trade while they wait for Stephon Castle or Dylan Harper to get to that level.
Johnson’s leadership and off-ball ferocity, Vassell’s firepower and untapped potential. It could all come together for those two this upcoming season, as they improve individually and find their ideal place in the rotation, helping the Spurs turn heads. It’s possible. Alas, it’s also not out of the question that past issues rear their heads again, and two guys who have been in San Antonio for a while find themselves in trade rumors.
Johnson’s development stagnated long ago, and only a reliable outside shot or newfound defensive competence can turn him into a well-rounded player. If the shot doesn’t fall, or it falls at around league average, it could be hard to justify keeping him long-term. A leap on defense would help his case, but it seems unlikely. As for Vassell, his ability to blend in sometimes turns into a problem because his tendency to defer can lead to stretches of low impact. His health and intensity of defense are also question marks at this point.
Anyone who has watched the Spurs in the past few years knows the flaws of both players. While it seems unnecessary to dwell on them, it’s imperative to keep them in mind. If they can overcome them, either by settling into roles that highlight their strengths or by improving upon their weaknesses, San Antonio could surprise next season. Vassell and Johnson are arguably the two swing players for the Silver and Black in the short term, due to their experience and the team’s need for a three-level scorer and a two-way backup forward with range.
Rebuilds often reach a point at which homegrown players who were once important early on find themselves losing their standing as core guys, as their fit with stars becomes questionable or their shortcomings get hard to mask. Sometimes moving on works — the Thunder and Josh Giddey are prime examples — but it can be painful to let go. Hopefully, Johnson and Vassell will show their best version of themselves and sidestep the fate many in a similar circumstance couldn’t avoid.
