Amid a lackluster Finals run from All-Star point guard De'Aaron Fox, the San Antonio Spurs have been urged to trade him. However, fans might have to wait longer than they would like.
Two things can be true. First, the San Antonio Spurs probably wouldn't have won 62 games this season without De'Aaron Fox. Second, they'd be better off in the NBA Finals against the New York Knicks without him.
After averaging 18.6 points per game in the regular season, the Spurs were hoping Fox would tap into his famous "clutchness" in the postseason. In the Finals, however, Fox is averaging only 14.7 points on worse efficiency than he did in the regular season.
After his series of blunders late in Game 4, Fox has found himself in trade rumors. However, a recent report suggests that fans might have to wait before he gets shipped off.
Fox Trade Timeline Revealed
Of course, the Spurs can't trade someone in the middle of the Finals, as much as some of the more emotional fans would like. They could bench Fox in favor of rookie guard Dylan Harper, although so far, Mitch Johnson has rolled with the veteran.
The eventual expectation is that Fox will be moved, opening up chances for Harper to start alongside Stephon Castle in the backcourt. Fox has been an excellent mentor for the younger players and has been key to their improvement and development, which is one of the reasons why the Spurs want to keep him around.
"The veteran leadership the Spurs hoped to get from De’Aaron Fox did not materialize in Game 4, as a barrage of Fox mistakes and poor shot decisions helped fuel the Knicks‘ record-breaking comeback," prefaced Heavy's Sean Deveney.
"But no, that does not mean the Spurs will be shipping Fox out on the next boat. The belief around the league is that the Spurs will eventually move on from Fox, but likely not until the next trade deadline, or perhaps even next summer."
The earliest Fox would be shipped out is in 2027, more than likley in the summer rather than the winter. Unless he sees a role reduction, that means Harper will continue to come off the bench, with Fox starting.
Of course, the Finals aren't over yet, so Fox could save face or cement himself as a "the dynasty starts after you" guy. For now, it seems fans have turned on him.
