The San Antonio Spurs have been urged to move De'Aaron Fox, and one mock trade would send him out with Luke Kornet in exchange for a familiar veteran backcourt name.
That deal, proposed by BasketNews' Jonas Gendvilas, would send Fox and Kornet to the Dallas Mavericks for Kyrie Irving and Daniel Gafford. Gendvilas framed the move as one that would help Dallas solve its timeline issue with Irving while giving San Antonio a chance to reshape a roster that, in his words, was "just one step away from winning the title."
For the Spurs, the appeal starts with fit and finances. Fox’s maximum contract makes him a natural candidate to be moved as San Antonio looks to manage its payroll, especially with Stephon Castle set for an extension next summer and Dylan Harper due for one after that. If Fox were dealt, Castle and Harper would be the only true point guards on the roster capable of handling major minutes, which is why the Spurs would need a replacement coming back in any serious deal.
Irving would check that box, at least on paper. Gendvilas wrote, "Replacing Fox with Irving would give the Spurs a proven playoff performer who can provide valuable postseason experience to San Antonio's young backcourt. While there is risk given Kyrie's injury history, his shorter and less expensive contract provides more flexibility for the future."
There are obvious questions attached to Irving, too. He hasn’t played NBA basketball in over a year, and there’s no guarantee he fully returns from the torn ACL.
Even so, the talent level is undeniable, and the source notes that he’s proven himself as one of the clutcher players in the league. His deal also has only two seasons left, which adds to the financial flexibility San Antonio would get in this scenario.
The Mavericks would be getting a different kind of return: a long-term, experienced partner for Cooper Flagg. The idea is that Irving could share a backcourt with Castle and Harper, and the source points to his track record alongside Luka Doncic as evidence that he’d be open to that kind of setup.
The Spurs would also come away with Daniel Gafford, giving them a boost in center depth behind Victor Wembanyama. Kornet has already served as a useful backup for Wembanyama, helping San Antonio avoid big drop-offs when the star sat, so Gafford would be part of the same broad goal.
Still, the trade has a clear obstacle. Without draft capital attached, it’s difficult to see Dallas signing off on the deal.
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De'Aaron Fox Just Reached A Defining Point With The Spurs
De'Aaron Fox arrives in San Antonio at a point in his career where the conversation is no longer just about talent, but about what comes next. After helping drag Sacramento out of a long playoff drought, he has been traded to the Spurs with the kind of expectations that usually follow a player who has already shown he can change a franchises trajectory. At 29, Fox is no longer in the phase where upside is the headline, and the Spurs are banking on him to be a star-level presence as they try to build something bigger.
For Fox, this is also a chance to reshape how his career is remembered. The pressure that followed his Finals showing has only sharpened the sense that his next chapter matters, and San Antonio gives him a new stage to answer it. If he can settle in quickly and become part of a winning core, the move could mean more than a fresh start. It could become the bridge to another turnaround, and possibly the defining stretch of his career. [Read more 🡒]
Spurs Core Debate Just Took A Surprising De'Aaron Fox Turn
The Spurs have been building around a young core that already includes Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper, and the conversation around De'Aaron Fox has only sharpened as the roster takes shape. Even after criticism followed a rough NBA Finals showing, San Antonio has continued to treat Fox as more than a temporary fit, viewing him as an important piece of what the franchise is trying to do now and down the line.
Stephon Castle added a revealing layer to that picture when he discussed the team's inner circle, framing Fox as part of the same core group with himself and Harper. It is the kind of detail that says as much about the locker room climate as it does about the roster construction, with the Spurs projecting confidence and a family-like environment even as outside debate keeps circling one of their most established guards. [Read more 🡒]
De'Aaron Fox Is Giving The Spurs A Reason To Believe Again
De'Aaron Fox has already started shaping the Spurs next step before training camp even opens. Over the offseason, he has been actively practicing with teammates Victor Wembanyama, Harrison Barnes and Tobias Harris, using the time away from the regular season to build chemistry and set a tone for a group that is trying to turn promise into something sturdier. For a San Antonio team that is still figuring out how all its pieces fit, that kind of early connection matters almost as much as any schematic tweak.
Foxs presence also gives the Spurs a clear lead guard to organize the offense around, which is where the real intrigue begins. Last season asked him to adjust his role, and there is a growing sense that putting more of the ball in his hands next season could unlock a better rhythm for the entire attack. If that happens, the Spurs will not just be relying on talent - they will be leaning on a hierarchy that finally starts to feel settled. [Read more 🡒]