Some San Antonio Spurs fans have already been vocal about the long-term [price tag attached to De’Aaron Fox after Monday's big news](https://airalamo.com/spurs-make-massive-deaaron-fox-gamble-future-wemby-stake). Four years, $229 million is a lot to commit, and the concerns about future roster flexibility are not without merit. But for those rushing to call the deal a mistake, it is probably worth stepping back to remember what Fox has already brought to San Antonio, and what he could still become.
When the Spurs pulled off the deadline deal to land Fox from Sacramento this past February, it represented a calculated effort to add the one skill set this young group desperately needed: a dynamic, downhill guard who can control the game late and run the offense at a high level.
Even in a short sample size, Fox gave fans a taste of what that could look like. His feel for the game, ability to score at the cup, and leadership in tight moments immediately changed the complexion of the team.
Fox did not get to finish the season healthy, which added a layer of uncertainty, but the flashes were enough to justify why the front office wasted no time locking him in this summer. And really, the timing of this extension says just as much as the price. San Antonio has a roster centered around Victor Wembanyama. With that as the foundation, the need for a reliable lead guard becomes non-negotiable.
Fox was worth the price tag
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There is also something to be said about Fox's maturity at this stage of his career. Number four is not just a talented scorer, but he's grown into a guy who knows how to close games and understands what it takes to win.
That clutch factor has been well-documented in his career and especially during the 2022–23 season, when he earned the first-ever NBA Clutch Player of the Year award. Spurs fans got a glimpse of his clutch gene in February, when he nearly won a road game at the buzzer in Charlotte. That's the kind of moment that makes you want to bet on someone.
Will his deal complicate future decisions? Maybe. But if the Spurs plan to be competitive in the Western Conference anytime soon, then having a proven point guard like Fox next to Wembanyama is not a luxury, it's a requirement. And that is exactly how the front office saw it.
Overreactions are always going to come from big contracts. But for those questioning the Spurs’ decision here, it might help to remember what the alternative would look like. Rebuilding without a reliable backcourt leader is a good way to end up stuck, and San Antonio is not interested in that. They want to keep taking steps forward, and De’Aaron Fox gives them a real shot at doing that.