August 3rd will mark the first time the San Antonio Spurs can offer a max extension to star De'Aaron Fox. While it was initially a foregone conclusion that he would get a four-year, a $223 million extension, that may no longer be the case.
After all, a lot has changed since the Spurs acquired him back in February, with them surprisingly landing the second overall pick and selecting guard Dylan Harper.
Harper, Stephon Castle, and superstar Victor Wembanyama are all within 3 years of one another in terms of age, making them the clear focal points of the Spurs' young core. However, the Spurs will have to re-sign Fox to protect their investment, and that could prove tricky.
As NBA insider [John Hollinger points out in his recent article](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6476399/2025/07/07/luka-doncic-lakers-kevin-durant-rockets-nba-extensions/?utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=twhq&source=twitterhq), the Spurs have a few options regarding a potential Fox extension, and several of them could potentially help the team at his expense. The Spurs should be extremely careful with the contracts they sign, including Fox.
Spurs must play hardball with De'Aaron Fox's extension
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Hollinger floated the idea of a two-year extension with the second year being a player option or a three-year flat $150 million extension with the third year being a team option. The first option would guarantee that he'd be a Spur for two more seasons, including next season, and the second option would have him in Silver and Black for at least three years before he has the option to hit free agency.
Hollinger previously mentioned that the years were the most important aspect of a Fox extension, with fewer years limiting the potential downside. Fox and his agent will likely push for a fourth year, which would mean he's under contract for five years, through age 32.
Hollinger has a point, with point guards that rely on athleticism and don't have a reliable 3-point shot tending to age poorly. 32 is still fairly young, but locking in for five years is risky when Harper could be the future at point guard for the Spurs. The Spurs could always extend Fox for the full max, giving them the possibility to trade him later if and when Harper is ready to take over.
Extending De'Aaron Fox is tricky, but not impossible
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That comes with risk; however, starting point guards are fairly abundant, with more coming into the league every year. There's a scenario where the Spurs may need to trade Fox but might not find a team that needs him or wants him at $50+ million annually.
That is where the hardball part comes into play. San Antonio shouldn't extend him for more than 3 years and should either push for a team option or a partial guarantee. Either would give the team an out.
Or, they could just give him a player option, like Hollinger states. That way, he may opt out himself at 31, seeking a last payday. In that case, if the Spurs don't want him, they can let him walk.
Fox can thrive with the Spurs, but cost is key
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That all makes it sound like Fox won't work out in San Antonio. It has little to do with how well he'll play; it's more about making sure the Spurs aren't in a bad spot in several years with a potential max extension.
Fox could perform at a level similar to his peak years in Sacramento, averaging at least 22 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1.5 steals. That would be a perfect fit in San Antonio.
That seems more likely than not, though there will likely be some growing pains as the Spurs experiment with a guard trio of Fox, Harper, and Castle. Still, the Spurs should want Fox, but getting a team-friendly contract is key to their long-term success in a new era where there are harsh restrictions on spending.