DHJ Quick Take: Spurs Stand by De’Aaron Fox After a Rough Finals
San Antonio remains committed to De’Aaron Fox as its starting point guard, viewing his Finals struggles as the product of one injury-hampered series.
- Are the Spurs trading De’Aaron Fox? No. ESPN reported San Antonio remains committed to Fox as its starting point guard despite his Finals struggles.
- Will Dylan Harper start over De’Aaron Fox? Calls for Harper to start are expected to grow, but the Spurs don’t view it as something they must resolve right away.
- What is De’Aaron Fox’s contract? His four-year, $229 million extension kicks in next season, rising from $37.1 million to $49.8 million and reaching $61.7 million in 2029-30.
- Why isn’t Fox’s contract a problem yet? It won’t become a crunch until Victor Wembanyama’s rookie extension kicks in and the Spurs extend Stephon Castle next summer.
The San Antonio Spurs are sticking with De’Aaron Fox as their franchise point guard, holding firm on that internal commitment despite a difficult NBA Finals, according to ESPN’s Michael C. Wright.
Wright reported that the Spurs continue to view Fox as the anchor of their backcourt, with sources describing him as “a calming presence and the team’s closer” for most of the season. The organization isn’t reading much into one rough series, which Fox played through while compromised physically.
A Rough Finals for De’Aaron Fox
Fox struggled badly in San Antonio’s five-game loss to the New York Knicks, the franchise’s first Finals appearance since 2014. He averaged 12.8 points on 34.2% shooting and 25% from 3-point range across the series, and his Game 5 line of 7 points on 3-of-15 from the field, including 1-of-8 from deep, capped a forgettable championship round.
The Spurs are weighing those numbers against his season-long value and the reality that he was playing hurt.
The Looming Dylan Harper Question
The bigger storyline is Dylan Harper. The rookie shined in the Finals, scoring 25 points in Game 5 and becoming one of the few rookies to post 20-plus points in consecutive Finals games, and San Antonio thrived with him on the floor next to Victor Wembanyama.
ESPN reported that calls from Harper’s camp for a starting spot are expected to grow louder heading into next season, though the Spurs don’t see it as something they need to settle immediately. For now, the team is leaning on Fox’s experience while letting Harper develop.
Why the Financial Crunch Is Down the Road
Fox’s four-year, $229 million extension kicks in next season, lifting his salary from $37.1 million to $49.8 million and climbing to $61.7 million in 2029-30, when he’ll be 32.
That figure won’t become a real problem until Wembanyama’s rookie extension takes hold and the Spurs move to extend 2024-25 Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle to what projects as a max deal next summer.
Until then, San Antonio can keep its veteran starter without the cap math forcing a decision.
A rough Finals didn’t shake the Spurs’ belief in Fox, even as the backcourt around Wembanyama keeps getting more crowded.
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