When the San Antonio Spurs traded for De’Aaron Fox, they had no way of knowing that they would draft Dylan Harper second overall just a few months later. Of course, by the time they offered him a four-year maximum extension, Harper was already in town, so they might have made the trade, regardless.
With Fox, Harper, and Stephon Castle all in the backcourt, it’s only a matter of time before the Spurs make a trade. Point guards are not hard to come by, but all three are expected to be solid defenders, so there is some value there.
As the Spurs build around Victor Wembanyama, surrounding him with sharpshooting wings seems to be a recipe for success, although the Spurs have been warned against including Fox in a deal.
San Antonio Spurs Warned Against Trading Fox
When Fox requested a trade from the Sacramento Kings last season, he listed the Spurs as his preferred landing spot.
And why not? He could get in on the ground floor next to a generational talent and rebrand himself as a winner, something the Kings never offered.
If the Spurs are interested in flipping one of their guards for a better fit, Fox shouldn’t be that guy. It would risk drawing the ire of one of the most powerful men in the NBA.
“Fox stuck his neck out for a San Antonio team that typically doesn’t recruit stars,” explained CBS Sports’ Sam Quinn. “Moving him right away sends a message to other players about how they might be treated if they also try to get to San Antonio. If nothing else, you don’t want to piss off an agent as powerful as Rich Paul. San Antonio has to let this play out.”
Not only is Paul the agent of both Fox and LeBron James, but Klutch Sports represents 36 NBA players total, including ten All-Stars.
So far, the Spurs have done right by Fox, and in order to appease Paul, they should continue keeping their new star happy.
Fox’s Fit With Wembanyama is Yet to Be Revealed
Fox is a talented, proven guard, but he is easily the second option on the Spurs. Their success and long-term future are dictated by Wembanyama, whom Fox was brought in to maximize.
Fox and Wembanyama played in only five games together before Wembanyama was ruled out for the season. The Spurs went 2-3 in those contests.
All of those games were on the road, Fox was on a new team, and he had to share point guard duties with Chris Paul. In that span, he averaged 21.6 points and 7.8 assists while shooting 50% from the floor. Wembanyama, in his final five games, posted 21.2 points, 12 rebounds, and three blocks, although he was in a bit of a shooting slump.
Alongside CP3, Fox wasn’t able to freely run the offense, and in his first five games with the Spurs, he was still learning the ropes. With a full offseason together, the Spurs’ star duo is expected to take a leap, making a trade both unlikely and not desirable for all parties involved.