De’Aaron Fox Gets Locked. Loaded. Forever Spurs
As of August 4, 2025, the San Antonio Spurs officially locked in De’Aaron Fox on a four‑year, $229 million max extension, keeping him under contract through the 2029‑30 season.
- De’aaron Fox, then 27, had become a free agent under his Kings’ deal next summer, but this move cemented him as a Spurs mainstay.
- In the 62 games he played in 2025 (45 with Sacramento, 17 in San Antonio), he averaged 23.5 points, 6.3 assists, and 4.8 rebounds. Then came the finger surgery that sidelined him for the rest of the season.
The Why: Running Mate to Wembanyama & Pick‑and‑Roll Savior
Trading for de’aaron Fox this February delivered more than scoring, it added experience and craft to a Spurs rebuild centered around Victor Wembanyama. Though their court overlap was limited to just five games before injury, Spurs staff clearly saw a nascent pick‑and‑roll tandem in the making.
San Antonio’s draft night added more fuel: they picked Dylan Harper at No. 2 and already had reigning Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle. Now, with three 6‑foot‑6 guards who can all handle, the Spurs face a one-in-a-generation “guard logjam” and de’aaron Fox is the elder statesman anchoring it.
Cap-Strapped Forward: The Elephant of Wembanyama’s Supermax
NBA cap strategist Bobby Marks issued a sober warning:
“De’Aaron Fox is eligible … four years, up to $229 million. The first-year salary extension … would be between $49 and $51 million.” He continued, “That’s the last year Victor Wembanyama is on his rookie‑scale contract… What does that mean for the Spurs?”, highlighting the looming pressure when Wemby signs his super-max in 2026.
Marks added bluntly:
“De’aaron Fox is a really good player. Is he a top‑25 player? I don’t think so… I think you have to be careful handing out $51‑$52 million contracts to really good players who are top‑level starters but not All‑Stars.”
So, while De’aaron Fox gives San Antonio legitimacy, his extension is a major financial step that must be meshed with Wembanyama’s upcoming massive payday.
Transfer Season in Review: Suns, Lakers, Durant, Butler & Giannis
Luka Doncic⇄Anthony Davis Trade
Shocked the sports world in February when the first-ever mid-season swap of two reigning All‑NBA players. Mavericks sent Luka to the Lakers for Anthony Davis, with the Jazz as a conduit prompting exasperated reactions league-wide, including former Mavericks exec David Aldridge calling it a “holy s––t” move. Dallas believed a D‑first approach with Davis would bolster security, even as fans burned “Fire Nico” T‑shirts across the city.
Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets
On July 6, 2025, the NBA saw a record 7‑team trade that landed Kevin Durant with the Rockets, a seismic change with championship implications up and down the Western Conference.
Jimmy Butler Joins the Warriors
In a five‑team deal, Butler landed with Golden State, declined his player’s option, and penned a fresh two-year, $121 million contract. The Warriors hope he adds playoff poise to their already potent offense with Steph, Wiggins & DLo.
Giannis-Bucks Rumblings
In early August, Giannis Antetokounmpo reportedly mulled a trade request from Milwaukee. Though no immediate deal came through, teams like Brooklyn are preparing high‑end proposals if the Greek Freak decides to move on.
Where Spurs Fit in the Transfer Landscape
- San Antonio features one of the shrewdest rebuilds, they cashed in Kings’ missteps to land Fox and then added Harper and Bryant in the draft, all under the watchful eye of Mitch Johnson, succeeding Gregg Popovich.
- Amid so many superstars moves, the Spurs quietly reshaped their core, prioritizing long-term cohesion over flash.
Risk vs. Reward: Fox’s Role in 2025–26 Goals
Fox’s extension puts the Spurs’ playoff trajectory within reach but not without trade-offs:
- Three ball-dominant guards with limited 3-point reliability could hamper spacing unless Harper or Castle adapts into a dynamic secondary star.
- Critics argue that with Wembanyama next year signing a supermax, roster flexibility could vanish, turning the Fox deal into a cap trap if other contracts malfunction.
Still, Fox and Wembanyama offer Spurs fans the most meaningful chapter since 2014. They both bring youth, length, and pick‑and‑roll fluency.
Final Take: Spurs’ Smart Gamble or Cap-Time Bomb?
San Antonio’s move to extend Fox is bold and straightforward: get him while the system still fits. He’s never been more central to the rebuild. But critics aren’t wrong, the margin for error in Spurs nation is vanishingly small. As Wembanyama steps into his massive extension next year, Fox’s cap hit will be a sharp-edged instrument.
In a league where Luka’s been traded, Durant reunited with Houston, and Giannis’ future remains unsettled, the Spurs have doubled-down with golden youth, draft capital, and now a proven playoff-intent guard. If Fox and Wemby build chemistry, San Antonio might not just chase a ring, they could spark a new dynasty.
