This Blazers-Spurs trade proposal sends Keldon Johnson to Portland

One NBA writer has proposed that the San Antonio Spurs trade small forward Keldon Johnson to the Portland Trail Blazers for center Jusuf Nurkic, shooting guard Keon Johnson and the sixth overall pick in the 2023 draft.

Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report believes this deal could help both the Blazers and Spurs.

“On the surface, Johnson looks like a member of San Antonio’s core as a 23-year-old who just averaged 22 points per game,” Buckley wrote. “Yet, he may not be guaranteed a starting spot going forward, and after backtracking as an outside shooter (32.9 percent, down from 39.8), it’s possible he’s an inside-the-arc scoring specialist.

“The Blazers are better positioned to make the most of him, since they’d have (at least) Lillard and (assuming he re-signs) Grant ahead of Johnson on the offensive pecking order. And should Portland ever need to pull the plug on the idea of winning big with Lillard, Johnson is young enough to keep around."

Johnson averaged 22.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.9 assists for the Spurs this season while shooting 45.2% from the field, 32.9% from beyond the arc, and 74.9% from the free-throw line. The 23-year-old appeared in 63 games and led San Antonio in points per game.

The Spurs have the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 draft and will select Victor Wembanyama.

Johnson signed a four-year, $74 million rookie scale extension with San Antonio in July 2022. He will make $20 million next season. The Spurs drafted Johnson with the 29th overall pick in the 2019 draft out of Kentucky. The Virginia native has career averages of 16.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.1 assists.

The Blazers need more talent around superstar point guard Damian Lillard, so adding Johnson wouldn’t be a bad move since the swingman has proven he can score the ball.