The San Antonio Spurs stay dedicated to De’Aaron Fox regardless of his disappointing end to the 2026 NBA Finals, however a brand new report suggests his present contract has successfully taken commerce discussions off the desk.
Based on Jared Weiss of The Athletic, the Spurs internally consider Fox is “not tradeable on his contract in the intervening time.” The group is as a substitute targeted on serving to the veteran level guard rebuild his worth throughout the 2026-27 season, with a stronger postseason seen as a key step within the franchise’s long-term backcourt plans.
Fox, 28, begins the primary season of a four-year, $221.7 million contract after an up-and-down first full marketing campaign in San Antonio. The Spurs completed 62-20, earned the No. 2 seed within the Western Convention and reached the NBA Finals earlier than falling to the New York Knicks in five games.
Fox performed an vital position all through the common season, averaging 18.6 factors, 6.2 assists, 3.8 rebounds and 1.2 steals whereas capturing 48.6% from the sphere throughout 72 video games. He earned an All-Star choice and fashioned a productive partnership with Victor Wembanyama, who averaged 25.0 factors, 11.5 rebounds and three.1 blocks whereas winning Defensive Player of the Year and ending third in MVP voting.
Nonetheless, Fox’s postseason manufacturing declined sharply after struggling an ankle sprain throughout the Western Convention semifinals towards the Minnesota Timberwolves. He missed the primary two video games of the Western Convention Finals towards the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder earlier than returning in Sport 3 and persevering with to play by the damage.
Throughout 21 playoff video games, Fox averaged 15.6 factors, 6.0 assists and three.8 rebounds whereas capturing simply 41.4% from the sphere and 29.4% from three-point vary. His struggles grew to become much more pronounced throughout the Finals, the place he averaged solely 12.8 factors per recreation on 34.3% capturing general and 25.0% from past the arc.
Weiss famous that the defining sequence got here late in Sport 4 towards New York. With San Antonio main by one level and the shot clock turned off, Fox attacked the basket for a possible game-sealing layup however was blocked. The Knicks capitalized to win 107-106 earlier than closing out the collection in Sport 5.
Regardless of these numbers, the Spurs reportedly attribute a lot of Fox’s decline to the lingering ankle damage moderately than a everlasting drop in efficiency. Internally, the assumption is that he persistently generated high quality scoring alternatives however didn’t convert them at his normal price whereas taking part in by ache.
The report additionally sheds gentle on San Antonio’s evolving backcourt image. Stephon Fortress seems firmly established as a starter after averaging 16.7 factors and seven.4 assists throughout the common season earlier than elevating these numbers to 18.2 factors and 6.1 assists within the playoffs. Rookie Dylan Harper additionally impressed, averaging 11.8 factors throughout the common season and 14.1 factors on 51.5% capturing within the postseason.
Based on Weiss, Fortress is seen as a long-term starter, whereas Harper confirmed sufficient promise to finally earn a beginning position. Nonetheless, with Fox’s contract thought-about troublesome to maneuver and all three guards unlikely to start out collectively until one develops into an elite perimeter shooter, Harper could proceed in a reserve position until Fox finally accepts a transfer to the bench.
The Spurs’ offseason has in any other case centered on sustaining continuity round Wembanyama. The franchise secured the All-NBA heart with a five-year, $252 million rookie extension, re-signed Julian Champagnie and Harrison Barnes, added veteran ahead Tobias Harris, and chosen Jayden Quaintance and Tarris Reed Jr. within the first spherical of the 2026 NBA Draft.
