With a quick glance, you likely think that De'Aaron Fox was overpaid, and I wouldn't blame you. I am not here to say that the deal was some massive bargain. The newest Spurs star was certainly paid a hefty amount, and it may come back to bite sooner rather than later. However, there is a silver lining amongst it all.
While a massive payday usually shores up the player's spot on the franchise long term, that is not the case with Fox. The Spurs have shown that they believe him and don't plan on kicking him out the door immediately, but this deal doesn't by any means rule out his trade candidacy. If anything, it strengthens it.
The Fox extension could be the reason the Spurs land an unbridled superstar in a few years: you need to be patient. Even if you hate the deal and think he deserves much less than he got, you must realize this hidden factor.
The Spurs can land a superstar without giving up key role players
In a crowded Western Conference, the Spurs will need a dominant top-to-bottom roster to compete. The Spurs' excellent role players need to stay aboard, while the stars must be shining at the top. Sounds impossible, right? Well, I offer you the key to completing a championship roster.
The Fox extension and the precise amount of money he earned have completely shifted the Spurs' future trade plans. Instead of having to fill up a competitive offer with a breadth of role players, the Spurs now have a new trick up their sleeve. With Fox's bulky contract, the Spurs hold the perfect asset to match any other superstar's respective deal.
Take Giannis Antetokounmpo, for example. The perfect complement to Victor Wembanyama would have likely cost the Spurs a collection of contracts and essential role players such as Jeremy Sochan, Keldon Johnson, and Devin Vassell. While the prospects of bringing in the Greek Freak are salivating, it may not be worth slashing through the Spurs' depth.
Despite Fox's talent, I would much rather hold onto the glue of the team rather than a player who is preventing the Spurs' youth from blossoming. Depth has never been more critical in the NBA, and the Spurs must do everything in their power to keep the team bountiful.
Now, the Spurs can condense all of those assets into just one player. Needing just Fox and draft assets to complete a mega-deal, the Spurs can build a frightening assortment of talent with just one very plausible move.
While rosters are believed to remain the same for the time being and Fox is still expected to stay a Spur for the 2025-26 season, it is never too early to fantasize about what's to come in the future. Yet, the dreams of bringing in a second true superstar next to Wembanyama are not too far-fetched. The path to adding one just got a whole lot more feasible.