Matt Johnson
The San Antonio Spurs have looked better in the Western Conference Finals since getting All-Star point guard De’Aaron Fox back on the court. While his return might ultimately help San Antonio reach the NBA Finals, it appears he may not be long for the team.
Sam Amick of The Athletic wrote that there is “league-wide chatter” around the NBA about Fox’s time in San Antonio being cut short. While he was acquired in a blockbuster trade with the Sacramento Kings just a year ago, circumstances could push him out.
- De’Aaron Fox stats (ESPN): 18.6 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 6.2 APG, 1.2 SPG, 48.6% FG, 1.8 3PM per game, 33.2% 3PT
It would be a bit ironic if the Spurs actively shopped Fox this offseason. After spending the majority of his NBA career in Sacramento, Fox forced his way out and engineered a trade to the Spurs. Now, he could be in jeopardy of being dealt as soon as this offseason.
Fox’s contract is part of the problem. In August 2025, San Antonio signed him to a four-year, $229 million contract extension. He’s now scheduled to make more than $49 million per season, eating up a significant portion of the Spurs’ cap space through the 2029-30 season.
- De’Aaron Fox contract (Spotrac): $49.5 million cap hit in 2026-27, $53.46 million cap hit in 2027-28, $57.42 million cap hit in 2028-29 and $61.38 million cap hit for 2029-30
Meanwhile, the Spurs already have their guard tandem of the future with Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper. Both have proven they can be high-end players, with Harper showcasing that he could develop into becoming one of the best guards in the NBA.
Fox, who turns 29 in December, is a borderline All-Star talent. However, his contract AAV doesn’t necessarily align with a guard who had just .138 Win Shares per 48 Minutes this past season.
It seems like it’s a matter of when, not if, the Spurs start shopping Fox around the league. While he rightfully viewed a trade to the Spurs as the best path to competing for a championship every year, his contract and the superior talent at guard make him expendable for San Antonio.
