The San Antonio Spurs had the New York Knicks on the ropes. Multiple times. Up 29 in Game 4, up double digits in every single game of the NBA Finals — and yet they walked away with nothing but a haunting memory of missed opportunities. The blame game has begun, and one name keeps surfacing louder than the rest: De’Aaron Fox.
This isn’t about blaming one guy for a team collapse. The Spurs overachieved by nearly every measure in Victor Wembanyama’s third season, and their young core — Wembanyama, rookie Dylan Harper, and Stephon Castle — proved they belong on the biggest stage. But the Finals exposed a hard truth: Fox, the veteran point guard brought in to steady the ship, looked lost when it mattered most.
In Game 4, with the Spurs up by one and seconds left, Fox drove to the rim instead of dribbling out the clock. OG Anunoby swatted his layup. The Knicks stole the game. In Game 5, Fox shot 3-of-15, scored seven points, and watched the fourth quarter slip away while he misfired on four straight attempts. Fans online noted the irony: a team built around Wembanyama’s defensive brilliance and Harper’s poise watched its most experienced player crumble under pressure.
Fox remains a regular-season force. The Spurs won 62 games with him running the show. He helped Harper adjust to the league and took pressure off Castle. But here’s the problem: Harper played so well in the playoffs that he’s earned a starting role. According to Devin Vassell, there’s already a point of contention about that. Moving Fox to the bench would mean paying a sixth man roughly $222 million over the next four years. That math doesn’t sit well for a team facing a looming salary cap crunch.
Wembanyama is nearing supermax eligibility. Julian Champagnie has developed into one of the league’s premier shooters and deserves a raise. Harper and Castle will command max deals down the line. The Spurs’ front office has to decide whether Fox’s $55 million annual salary is worth the playoff headaches.
The trade market won’t be easy. Fox’s contract is massive, and his postseason numbers — 4.4 points per game in the Finals, 34.8 percent shooting in key moments — don’t inspire confidence. The Spurs haven’t confirmed any trade discussions, but speculation is rampant. Moving Fox would free up cap space and allow Harper to take over as the primary playmaker. It would also send a message that San Antonio values playoff performance over regular-season stats.
Keldon Johnson is another name to watch. He won Sixth Man of the Year this season and remains the team’s heart and soul. But his playoff production dropped off a cliff — 4.4 points per game on 34.8 percent shooting — and he’s entering the final year of his deal at $18 million. Luke Kornet, who blocked a memorable dunk in the Western Conference Finals, proved too slow against the Knicks’ switches, making him a liability in crunch time.
The Spurs’ untouchables are clear: Wembanyama, Harper, and Castle. Everyone else is negotiable. The question isn’t whether this team can win a title — they just proved they can hang with the best. The question is whether they’re willing to make the tough call on Fox before his contract becomes an anchor. The window is open now. San Antonio can’t afford to wait.
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