De’Aaron Fox is eligible to sign a four-year, $229 million contract extension with the San Antonio Spurs this summer.
De’Aaron Fox got his wish last season, leaving the Sacramento Kings in pursuit of a role on a championship team.
The Kings traded Fox to the San Antonio Spurs near the deadline as part of a three-team deal. But just a few months into his tenure, Fox’s future with the team is already up in the air.
The Spurs won the #2 overall pick and selected Dylan Harper in the 2025 NBA Draft. Harper is a combo guard, much like reigning Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle, who thrives in the point guard role.
With three starting-caliber guards, there might emerge some frustration from whichever player ends up taking the bench role.
Gilbert Arenas urged the Spurs to trade De’Aaron Fox, as he is surplus to requirements. As things stand, the Spurs have made no indication that they will do so.
But Fox is entering the final year of his contract. He is eligible for a four-year, $229 million contract extension.
San Antonio Spurs and De’Aaron Fox haven’t begun negotiations on new contract
Marc Stein recently opined about the De’Aaron Fox situation. When talking about Fox’s future with the San Antonio Spurs, Stein pointed to some chatter he heard around the league.
“Since acquiring Fox, San Antonio has watched Stephon Castle win Rookie of the Year honors and won the rights via the draft lottery to select Dylan Harper with the No. 2 overall pick on June 25.
“Those developments have many people wondering leaguewide: How automatic is a max for Fox now?”
Well, the answer to Stein’s question is simple – not automatic at all. According to NBA insider Ary, negotiations between Fox and the Spurs haven’t started, and won’t begin for a while.
“Negotiations haven’t started today and won’t for a while.”
De’Aaron Fox not signing extension could lead to trade
If De’Aaron Fox and the San Antonio Spurs are unable to agree on a contract extension, then a trade is going to be the most likely resolution.
As mentioned before, Fox is in the final year of his five-year, $163 million contract. Making $37 million next season, he would be an expensive piece the Spurs could trade to land trade assets and cap filler.
The reason the Spurs would look to trade Fox? So they don’t lose him for nothing in free agency.
With the new president, Gregg Popovich, looking to build the next great Spurs dynasty around Victor Wembanyama, he would want to maximize his asset pool.
