The San Antonio Spurs just made their first NBA Finals appearance in over a decade, and within hours of the Game 5 loss, the roster debate got loud. Kendrick Perkins didn’t wait for the confetti to settle before naming the three players he considers off-limits — and the takeaway is brutal for one high-profile teammate.
Speaking on ESPN’s SportsCenter after the Knicks closed out the series in five games, Perkins argued that the Spurs need a serious roster rethink. The core, in his view, starts with three names: Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle, and rookie Dylan Harper. Everyone else, he said, is fair game.
“They’re going to have to find another place for [Fox]. Number one, he makes too much money, and number two, he’s getting in the way of Dylan Harper,” Perkins said. “That spot belongs to Dylan Harper. We saw last night, and throughout the course of this series, that he was their most consistent offensive player on that team.”
De’Aaron Fox, acquired in a blockbuster trade just over a year ago, is under contract for nearly $35 million next season. He struggled through stretches of the Finals, and while Perkins acknowledged he had “bright spots,” the former NBA champion made it clear the Spurs can’t afford to keep everyone.
Why Harper, not Fox, is the future
Dylan Harper, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 draft, averaged 18 points and 6.4 rebounds in the Finals. At 20 years old, he looked like the team’s most reliable scorer when the pressure peaked. Castle, last year’s Rookie of the Year, added 14.6 points and 5.4 boards. Wembanyama, as expected, was dominant: 26 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 3.6 blocks per game.
The Spurs had momentum entering the championship series. They eliminated the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder in a seven-game Western Conference Finals. But New York proved a far sterner test, especially at the AT&T Center, where San Antonio lost all three home games. That home-court vulnerability exposed deeper issues beyond the star trio.
According to Perkins, the front office has a clear directive this summer: keep Wembanyama, Castle, and Harper; evaluate everyone else. Fox, while talented, becomes an expensive puzzle piece that may no longer fit the team’s long-term trajectory.
What the Spurs do next
San Antonio enters the offseason with significant cap flexibility. Multiple tradeable contracts and a young, ascending core give them options. The team has not commented on any roster changes, but the speculation is already loud. Some fans online noted Fox’s playoff numbers — he shot under 40% from the field in three of the five Finals games — as evidence that a shakeup is necessary.
For Wembanyama, the Finals loss was a painful but instructive step. He played 38 minutes per game in the series, often carrying the offense through double-teams. If the Spurs can add a reliable third scoring option who doesn’t demand the ball in Harper’s hands, the balance could shift quickly.
The Western Conference isn’t getting easier. Oklahoma City will reload. The Timberwolves, Nuggets, and Mavericks are all lurking. But with three young untouchables and cap space to burn, San Antonio might be one smart move away from returning to the Finals — this time with a different outcome.
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