The San Antonio Spurs still haven’t found a preseason win, and that has left De’Aaron Fox’s return looking less like a luxury and more like a need. Dylan Harper has been one of the early bright spots, but the Spurs could use Fox back in the mix to help sharpen the edge this group says it wants.
The first two games have told very different stories. In the opener against the Atlanta Hawks, San Antonio’s starters raced out to a 23-point lead, which opened the door for the reserves and rookies to get extended run. Two nights later against the Phoenix Suns, the Spurs came out flat, and the blame landed on the star group after the loss.
That matters because the Spurs spent the offseason making it clear they want to use their Finals loss as fuel. So far, though, the urgency hasn’t matched the messaging. Getting Fox back in the starting lineup should help change that tone.
Harper has made a strong early case, putting up 16 and 15 points in the first two games and looking like the starting point guard for the moment. But the job should be Fox’s to win back, not Harper’s to lose. These preseason minutes are exactly where Fox can start pushing the pace and setting the standard.
As Castle put it, "The motivation is just not skipping steps," said Castle. "Last year, I don't think we skipped any steps from preseason to the start of the season; whatever it was, it kind of shaped our identity.
We started to figure it out towards the end of December, mid-January is when we really started to figure it out. I think we'll do the same thing here."
Castle, Devin Vassell, and Victor Wembanyama all enter this phase without much individual pressure, since their roles are already secure. The bigger question is which players have something on the line. Harper and Fox both fit that description, and if they’re both attacking downhill and putting pressure on the defense, that should help the rest of the roster follow along.
For now, the Spurs have more to prove as a group than as a collection of individual pieces. They’ve talked openly about getting back to the Finals, but preseason is already giving a small sample of what they look like when the game doesn’t come easy. Right now, they don’t look like a contender.
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Spurs Face A De'Aaron Fox Dilemma That Could Free Their Young Backcourt
A recent trade idea has put the Spurs in an interesting spot around DeAaron Fox, with the discussion centered less on what he has already done in San Antonio and more on how his presence shapes the rest of the roster. Bleacher Reports Greg Swartz floated a scenario involving Houston that would reshape both teams, and from the Spurs side it raises a familiar question for a rebuilding club: how much should fit matter when the long-term picture is still coming into focus?
For San Antonio, the bigger appeal may be what opens up behind Fox. A move like this would clear a path for Dylan Harper and Stephon Castle to share the backcourt, giving the Spurs a chance to lean further into their younger guards. It remains strictly speculative, and there is no indication either team is lining up to make it happen, but it is the sort of idea that naturally lingers because it speaks directly to the Spurs next phase. [Read more 🡒]
Spurs Opening Lineup Comes With One Immediate Problem Fans Can See
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Tobias Harris is the one player in the mix who can help address that issue once he is fully back from a left calf strain. His presence would give the Spurs more rebounding and a little more size to work with, but for now the question is whether he is ready to be part of the answer when the season opens. [Read more 🡒]
Harrison Barnes Just Entered A Spurs Debate Fans Did Not Expect
Harrison Barnes didnt arrive in San Antonio with much mystery around his role, but the conversation around him has shifted anyway. After re-signing on a one-year deal and taking a pay cut, the veteran forward found himself in a Spurs rotation that only got more crowded, and his minutes dipped during the teams recent playoff run. For a club trying to sort out its future while keeping enough proven depth around Victor Wembanyama, Barnes has become a useful measuring stick for how the roster is taking shape.
The tension now is less about Barnes value as a steady presence and more about what that value means in a forward room with too many bodies and not enough clear answers. San Antonio has several wings and forwards competing for time, which is why Barnes has surfaced as a potential trade piece despite the respect he commands inside the locker room. The Spurs dont need to rush anything, but the fit question is starting to linger, and its one of those roster debates that could follow them well into the summer. [Read more 🡒]