The San Antonio Spurs have one of the greatest draft histories of any franchise in the NBA. Tim Duncan is arguably the greatest no. 1 pick in league history. Manu Ginobili was drafted at the end of the second round, only to become a predominant Sixth Man and one of the greatest international players ever. Tony Parker was selected at the end of the first round, but eventually became the most effective player out of those three in the latter years of the Spurs dynasty.
Then of course, there are the draft night trades. Most notably, the deal that sent George Hill to the Indiana Pacers in exchange for one Kawhi Leonard. In each and every one of these scenarios, the common denominator is head coach Greg Popovich.
Coach Pop is not only one of the greatest coaches in league history, but one of the best in terms of player development. Duncan and Parker in particular have gushed about how much Popovich has meant to their respective careers. And for all of the ugliness that preceded Leonard's breakup with San Antonio, he still credited Popovich with helping him become an elite talent in the league.
And so, the Spurs will find themselves in a familiar position on June: selecting towards the end of the first round, hoping to pick a player that might flourish under Popovich. As it happens, there is another athletic and sweet-shooting swingman that could be the perfect fit.
Here are three reasons why the Spurs should draft Keldon Johnson with the no. 19 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft:
1. Knockdown shooter
The foremost reason that the Spurs should select Johnson is that he projects very well as a perimeter jump shooter. Johnson shot 38 percent from beyond the arc on 3.2 attempts per game, but he also showed the ability to create space off the dribble or catch and shoot.
Popovich and the Spurs have always placed floor spacing at a premium. This is why Patty Mills and Davis Bertans have continuously evolved as shooters, and why San Antonio would pursue a player like Marco Bellinelli in free agency.
Johnson would probably be one of the best fits in this regard. He can play a combo guard role and serve as a secondary ball-handler while also offering spacing and options for playmakers like DeMar DeRozan.
In fact, Johnson could play a similar role to Danny Green when he played in San Antonio. Green was always a good shooter in college, but he seemed to thrive as a perimeter threat and prototypical “3 and D” guy with the Spurs.
2. Athletic defender
Johnson is 6'6,” and though he registered just a 6'9″ wingspan at the NBA Draft combine, he has proven to be very explosive at the rim. He mysteriously did not participate in the vertical leap, but his highlight reel is laden with poster dunks.
For a combo guard with his kind of physical tools and strength, Johnson has some similarities to Kawhi Leonard in terms of their frame coming out of college and the bounce they possess. Obviously, we all know how Leonard has panned out in the league.
While it would be foolish to assert that Johnson could become that kind of player, he does have the kind of skill set that might help him thrive under Popovich.
This is especially pertinent on the defensive end. Although Johnson did not turn opponents over or block a lot of shots, he could be a pest of a defender, using his body to get into ball handlers and make life difficult. Johnson also has excellent instincts as a help defender, which could prove vital for a Spurs team that has struggled more and more noticeably on defense.
3. Mixes it up
Johnson can sure get inside and bang with the bigs down low. He averaged close to six rebounds per game at Kentucky despite his lack of size.
Most of this stems from his high level of energy and work rate, both of which are tremendous. Johnson flies all over the floor and though it can sometimes get him in trouble, he makes plays by constantly being in motion.
The Spurs were one of the worst rebounding teams in the NBA this season, ranking 21st in the league. Part of this stems from having bigs like Bertans who are more perimeter-oriented. Thus, they could use a backcourt player who can help make a tangible impact on the glass and relieve some of the pressure on the likes of LaMarcus Aldridge.
On the surface, Johnson appears to be just another “3 and D” guy. But Popovich is a master at unlocking potential, and Johnson could be a breakout candidate. The Spurs should select him with the no. 19 pick.
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