Would A De’Aaron Fox Trade Benefit The Spurs?

Mar 10, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) drives against San Antonio Spurs guard De’aaron Fox (4) in the second half at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images

Would A De’Aaron Fox Trade Benefit The Spurs?

Originally posted on Stadium Rant | By David Desa | Last updated May 20, 2026 8:55 AM ET

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De’Aaron Fox has been a great addition to the San Antonio Spurs since they acquired him through a trade right around the trade deadline in the 2024-25 season. He signed a four-year, $229 million contract extension in the offseason. Clearly, the Spurs wanted to lock him up for the long term, but is it the right move? The Spurs drafted Dylan Harper with the second pick of the 2025 NBA Draft. He looks like he’s going to be an amazing player and has elevated his game during these playoffs. Many people have begun to wonder if Fox will hinder the development of their two young guards, Harper and Stephon Castle.

What A Fox Trade Would Do For San Antonio

Moving on from Fox would allow Castle and Harper to flourish more with the ball in their hands and give them the reps they need to develop into the players many believe they can be. There were rumors that Castle wanted to be a point guard. San Antonio didn’t know that they would get the second pick and have the opportunity to draft Harper when they traded for Fox. With that being said, trading him could turn this team into an even more unstoppable force.

San Antonio would benefit from getting a forward, the position they most need an upgrade in. Three names come to mind that could fill that void: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kawhi Leonard, and Trey Murphy. With a contract as large as Fox’s, matching salary on a trade should be pretty easy to do, and any of these three players could be attainable.

For San Antonio to complete an Antetokounmpo trade for Fox, the Spurs would definitely have to add some other pieces, including young players, along with draft compensation. Murphy is on a great contract for what he provides to the team; he’s currently on a four-year, $112 million deal. To get a deal done with New Orleans, the Spurs might have to add draft picks since the Pelicans would take on Fox’s large contract. A Leonard deal is exactly what this team needs: a two-way player, capable of taking over a game. His scandal creates a huge question mark about his future, though.

End Of De/Aaron Fox Rant

Maybe the Spurs are better off keeping Fox, as he is one of the most clutch players in the league, and it is important to have a veteran like him on a roster filled with young talent. Fox is a great player, and if San Antonio makes it known in the offseason that he is expendable, teams will surely be calling to get a deal done. This could all change if the Spurs win the championship this season; odds are likely they would want to bring back the core group. If San Antonio, though, doesn’t claim a championship and their young guard duo continues to play well, a Fox trade would become a real possibility and could pay dividends.

This article first appeared on Stadium Rant and was syndicated with permission.

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