De’Aaron Fox Says He’s Optimistic About Long-Term Extension With Spurs

Despite appearing in just 17 games for the Spurs following a midseason, three-team trade, Fox is already looking ahead to a long-term future with the franchise.

The veteran guard will become eligible on Aug. 3 for a four-year contract extension worth up to $229 million and says he’s optimistic about staying put.

“I would definitely hope so,” Fox told The Houston Chronicle’s Danielle Lerner when asked about extension talks.

Fox, 26, has one year and $37 million left on his current deal. Though his time with the Spurs was short, he was quickly woven into the franchise’s forward-looking plans alongside centerpiece Victor Wembanyama. The organization holds the No. 2 and No. 14 picks in this year’s draft and could look to either add more youth or package picks and players — like Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson, or Jeremy Sochan — in a deal for another established star.

How Fox fits into that mix appears to be a settled matter, at least for now. His brief stint was marred by an injury to his shooting hand, but his impact was still evident. He averaged 19.7 points, 6.8 assists, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game while shooting just 27.4% from beyond the arc.

The low shooting mark can be partially attributed to tendon damage in his right pinkie, which eventually shut him down for the season. Fox underwent surgery and has since resumed full-contact activity.

“I’m doing well. The surgery went fine,” Fox said. “I’ve been cleared so I played a little five-on-five and I’ve done contact stuff, so I’ll be ready for next year.”

Still, the Spurs’ backcourt situation is anything but simple. Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle and expected No. 2 overall pick Dylan Harper — both ball-dominant guards with inconsistent outside shooting — pose questions about long-term fit. But Fox’s arrival was too recent, and his pedigree too proven, to make him expendable.

Bottom line: The Spurs didn’t trade for Fox just to move on. And Fox didn’t come to San Antonio just to be a stopgap. Extension talks will tell the rest of the story, but for now, both sides appear aligned on building something bigger.