The question of whether the Spurs should try to trade De’Aaron Fox this summer is one of the most interesting ones of the entire offseason. A portion of the fanbase, along with some talking heads and analysts, would say the answer should be a resounding “yes,” but it doesn’t seem like the front office agrees, according to ESPN’s Michael C. Wright.
“Internally,” Wright writes, “the Spurs remain committed to Fox as their franchise starting point guard. Sources called Fox a calming presence and the team’s
closer for most of the season, adding that one rough series essentially playing on one leg doesn’t change that.“
The article, which is definitely worth a read, comes a day after San Antonio Express-News’ Mike Finger wrote a column also worth your time, suggesting, not reporting, that the Spurs should move on from Fox this offseason if they can find a good deal:
The Spurs are going to have to trade Fox before his contract expires, and if there’s an opportunity to do so this summer, they might as well get it over with and rip the bandage off now.
Now, the two quotes might appear contradictory, but that’s not necessarily the case. The Spurs might not shop Fox, at least not aggressively, and could be happy to bring him back while also listening to offers and potentially pulling the trigger if something makes sense for both parties.
So we know from trustworthy sources that San Antonio is committed to Fox, but moving him if they find an opportunity to do so doesn’t seem out of the question. But should they trade him this summer? While the answer is complex, it seems like it wouldn’t be the best idea, for several interconnected reasons. Let’s list them from least to most potentially harmful.
The Spurs’ reputation as a player-friendly franchise would take a hit
Let’s remember the story of how De’Aaron Fox got to the Spurs. Fox, tired of toiling away in Sacramento playing for a dysfunctional Kings team that only made the playoffs once with him on the roster, forced his way to San Antonio in 2025. His goal was to join Victor Wembanyama, already looking like a future superstar, and a fun, young group that featured then-rookie Stephon Castle in hopes of more success. Because he chose the Silver and Black, they got him for relatively cheap on the trade, mostly sending out backups and one valuable pick.
Flipping him now, after a bad postseason from the All-Star guard in which he played out of position and was injured, could give San Antonio a bad reputation with players who might be interested in joining powers with Wembanyama in the future, as they could think the franchise won’t value them. Granted, Fox got his max extension, which mitigates the damage, but the only way a trade would seem like a win-win for both player and team would be if Fox lands somewhere he wants to be and gets star minutes and touches.
The return on a trade is unlikely to be good
Because the Spurs are not just going to dump Fox just anywhere, as Finger says in his column, they’d be negotiating from a place of weakness. The number of suitors for Fox would be artificially reduced, meaning there wouldn’t be a bidding war. It’s possible that not even in the best of circumstances San Antonio would find a great offer for Fox, who is a good but not transcendent player on a maximum salary, but trading him now, when his value seems at an all-time low, doesn’t seem like a good management of resources.
The good news is that because the Spurs didn’t have to pay much to bring Fox along, not getting a king’s ransom back for him wouldn’t be that painful. And if they do in fact move him, it would be because they think they could be better off either on the court, in the locker room, or both by giving Dylan Harper as many minutes as he can handle. Still, since there is no rush, at least from a financial standpoint, waiting and hoping he could regain some of his value and remaining vigilant for the right suitor to appear feels like the better option.
The Spurs would likely be worse, and the pressure on the young guards would increase severely
Since in the event that Fox is traded it would likely be to a place he picks, and since his value is low at this point, it’s unlikely the Spurs get comparative talent back. Let’s assume they get something similar to what the Hawks got for Trae Young, which would be an aging guard (C.J. McCollum) and a limited role player (Corey Kispert). Unless there’s a serious chemistry issue that would be solved by the transaction, like there seemingly was in Atlanta, such a trade wouldn’t make San Antonio better. If the goal is to get back to the Finals next season, a move like that would make that objective more unlikely than, say, starting all three guards or convincing one to come off the bench.
It would also up the pressure on two extremely young players to make major strides in their game. While immensely talented, both Castle and Harper didn’t look ready to run a team last season. They were good scorers, and Castle clearly developed as a pick-and-roll ball handler, but they were not floor generals. Now, Fox isn’t exactly Chris Paul, and he played off the ball a lot, but on several occasions, he was the one who would settle the troops and run some offense that involved others. Despite his slump in the playoffs, he’s also the best three-point shooter of the three when accounting for volume. Maybe none of that would matter if Castle and Harper spent 2026/27 destroying opponents on simple drives, but until we see either or both of them be able to run a team, getting rid of the one guy who can could backfire.
The Dylan Harper lottery changed things for the Spurs. In a different universe, they land a lower pick, don’t select a guard, and the rumors about a potential Fox trade would not be as loud. In this reality and after how he performed in the postseason, it’s understandable to at least question whether a move should be made to clear a logjam and remove a contract that could eventually become a problem.
When taking the long view, however, almost certainly losing talent in the aggregate while trusting two young players to make a leap to make up for it doesn’t seem as appealing at this juncture, if the goal is to make another deep run in the playoffs. Eventually, the Spurs will almost certainly trade Fox, but since there’s no financial rush, they can afford to be patient and wait for a better opportunity.
