De'Aaron Fox’s rough NBA Finals didn’t change the San Antonio Spurs’ plans.
Even after Dylan Harper looked better than Fox on the biggest stage, the Spurs are still expected to keep Fox in the lead guard role next season. That’s the reality San Antonio is working with, even if plenty of fans would rather see Harper starting next to Stephon Castle and Victor Wembanyama.
The reason is simple enough: Fox is still under a maximum contract extension with four years left, so moving him isn’t a clean or easy fix. And while his Finals showing was underwhelming, the Spurs still view him as one of their better players.
That said, the shine has dimmed a bit. Fox has long been a strong point guard, but he’s also trending downward some and still hasn’t become a dependable 3-point shooter. Harper, on the other hand, may not be as steady over an 82-game season right now, but his upside is obvious.
For the full season, the Spurs have more reason to trust the larger body of work than the five-game Finals sample. Fox finished second on the roster in VORP and third in PER, two advanced metrics that try to capture overall value and impact.
San Antonio would rather lean on that 72-game picture than the Finals blunder.
“Despite his struggles in the NBA Finals, Fox is expected to start opposite Stephon Castle in the backcourt with Harper coming off the bench,” reported ESPN's Michael Wright. “After Fox's up-and-down performances during the NBA Finals, the team remains committed to the veteran, who has gained more chemistry over the summer working with Victor Wembanyama. The two didn't spend much time together last season due to Fox suffering a hamstring injury in early July.”
For now, Harper is set to remain in a smaller role for at least one more season, and the Spurs appear ready to stick with Fox.
In Other News...
Stephon Castle Faces The Spurs Challenge Russell Westbrook Never Solved
Russell Westbrooks retirement closes the book on one of the most explosive careers the league has ever seen, and it also offers a useful measuring stick for the Spurs own young guard room. Stephon Castle is being mentioned in the same breath for good reason: the forceful, downhill style, the willingness to attack the rim, and the kind of all-around pressure that can bend a defense without waiting for a clean look from deep.
Where Castle can separate himself is in the part of the game Westbrook never fully conquered, especially in the postseason. His early shooting gains have been encouraging, and if that progress continues, the Spurs could end up with a player who brings Westbrook-like juice while adding the one layer that made those great runs so hard to sustain. [Read more 🡒]
Spurs Get An Early Test Of How Real This Rise Is
The Spurs are about to find out plenty about themselves before the calendar even turns to November. Their early slate is packed with difficult opponents and relentless travel demands, including 13 back-to-backs and a stretch of four games in six nights before Oct. 31, giving San Antonio very little room to ease into the season. For a team trying to prove its rise is for real, the opening month looks less like a warmup and more like an examination.
Victor Wembanyama enters that grind with a clear individual goal: raise his offensive production and strengthen his case as an MVP-level force after last seasons experience. The good news for San Antonio is that the schedule should offer an immediate measuring stick against some of the Wests stronger teams, the kind of early test that can either accelerate belief or expose how much work still remains. [Read more 🡒]