De'Aaron Fox's $49.8 Million Finals Flop and Nobody in the League Is Ready For What Comes Next
Okay, let's get real for a second. We all saw it. De'Aaron Fox was rough in the NBA Finals this year, man. Like, straight up brutal. He was terrible against the Knicks, save for one decent Game 2 and that clutch shot he hit in Game 3, which felt like a mirage. And let's not even talk about the Western Conference Finals against the Thunder, because he wasn't much better there either.
His postseason shooting splits are an absolute eyesore: 41.4% from the field and a painful 29.4% from three. Ouch. You'd think after a performance like that, a guy would be on the trade block, right? But here's the wild part: San Antonio is absolutely keeping him, paying him a massive $49.8 million next season. And you know what? It just might be the smartest, most shocking move they make.
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Forget the Flop, The Talent Is Still There
Yeah, I know, those playoff numbers are tough to swallow. But let's rewind a bit. This dude was an All-Star! He wasn't some scrub who just stumbled into the Finals. Fox scored at least 17 points in nine of San Antonio's first 11 playoff games. That's a huge contributor! Even when his shot wasn't falling and he was struggling to put pressure on the rim with a bum ankle, his pick-and-roll offense was arguably their most reliable half-court weapon. You can't just ignore that kind of impact because of a few bad games on the biggest stage.
Sure, the "what have you done for me lately?" crowd is screaming to trade him, especially with Dylan Harper, last year's No. 2 pick, looking like the future. Everyone expects Harper to be San Antonio's starting point guard next year, and he's primed to be the Kobe to Victor Wembanyama's Shaq for the next decade-plus. Fox was a necessity when they traded for him at the 2025 deadline to speed up their timeline and give Wembanyama an immediate co-star. But now, with Harper in the fold? Fox is a luxury. A pricey one, but a luxury nonetheless.
Why a Luxury Player Is Exactly What They Need Right Now
Here's why San Antonio can afford that $49.8 million luxury, and why it makes total sense. Their three best young guns, Wembanyama, Harper, and Stephon Castle, are all still on rookie contracts. Combined, those three future superstars will make less than $40 million next season! That makes Fox's monster salary, which is the start of a four-year, $229 million deal, super palatable. He's currently the only player on their roster making more than $27 million next year, can you believe that?
They've got some other business to handle, like Julian Champagnie's $3 million team option, which is almost certainly getting converted to a long-term deal, and possibly re-signing free agent Harrison Barnes. But get this: they are still sitting $44 million below the luxury tax line. Wembanyama is eligible for a massive 5-year, $251 million extension starting in 2027-28, but even when that money hits, Castle and Harper will still be on their rookie deals. Harper's second contract won't even kick in until 2029-30. So, if Fox even stayed for the full four years of his current deal, his max money would only overlap with Harper's for one season, three years from now! That's an eternity in the NBA, man. San Antonio is in full title-or-bust mode, and Fox, despite his Finals flop, can still be a major part of that. They're playing the long game, and it's fascinating to watch.
This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.