The San Antonio Spurs Don’t Need To Trade De’Aaron Fox… Yet

BusinessSportsMoneyThe San Antonio Spurs Don’t Need To Trade De’Aaron Fox… YetByBryan Toporek,Senior Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Bryan Toporek covers the NBA for Forbes Sports.Follow AuthorJun 16, 2026, 06:00am EDTSummaryDe'Aaron Fox is being scapegoated for the San Antonio Spurs' NBA Finals collapse, marked by poor shooting and a critical Game 4 blunder. Despite fan pressure to move him, the Spurs remain committed to him, acknowledging his regular-season value and a high ankle sprain that significantly impacted his playoff performance. While young talents Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper showed promise, Fox's veteran presence is still crucial. His new, substantial contract makes an immediate trade difficult, but it could be a future asset. The Spurs should patiently allow Fox to rebuild his trade value before using his contract as a salary-matching chip for future blockbuster deals to build around Victor Wembanyama, prioritizing long-term success.Show More OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - MAY 30: De'aaron Fox #4 of the San Antonio Spurs during Game Seven of the NBA Western Conference Finals at Paycom Center on May 30, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)Getty ImagesSan Antonio Spurs point guard De'Aaron Fox has become the scapegoat for his team's painful collapse in the 2026 NBA Finals. Across the five-game series, Fox averaged only 12.8 points while shooting 34.3% overall and 25.0% from deep. He did chip in 6.0 assists, 3.0 rebounds, 1.4 threes and 1.4 steals per game, but he also gave the ball away 14 times across the five-game series. Fox’s disappointing Finals performance has some Spurs fans ready to buy him a one-way ticket out of town. However, the Spurs don’t...