Spurs can gift De'Aaron Fox a fresh start with proposed win-win Nets trade

After losing the NBA Finals, San Antonio Spurs star De'Aaron Fox isn't exactly popular right now. His awful performance was likely the number one reason why San Antonio came up short, and his max contract is set to kick in next season.

With Spurs fans having their metaphorical pitchforks out, trading Fox should be on the table. That will be easier said than done with him set to make $55 million on average over the next five seasons. This is despite averaging only 12.8 points in the NBA Finals.

Fortunately, there might be a trade that could get Fox out of town while giving San Antonio a key player in return.

* Note- The trade can't be completed until the 2026 NBA Draft, with the Spurs making their pick on the Nets' behalf.

A proposed trade would send De'Aaron Fox to the Nets

The Brooklyn Nets could be the perfect trade partner for the Spurs with them still in rebuild mode. That makes the Nets more equipped than most to take back Fox's contract.

A potential trade could see the Spurs trade Fox, the 20th pick in this year's draft, the Atlanta Hawks' 2027 first and the 2031 Sacramento Kings pick swap for Michael Porter Jr. Trading three firsts to get off of Fox's contract is a steep price to pay but ultimately worth it.

Not only would they be moving on from him, clearing a path for Dylan Harper to start, but they'd be getting Porter Jr. back. Remember, he averaged a career high 24.2 points while shooting 36.3% on 9.1 attempts per game last season.

Trading Fox for Michael Porter Jr. would kill two birds with one stone

That is an impressive feat, and were he on a much better team, he could be far more impactful. Ironically, he was salary dumped on the Nets by the Denver Nuggets a year ago.

However, now he's a positive asset that the Spurs would be wise to take back in a potential Fox trade. Brooklyn receiving three firsts for him would hopefully take the sting out of having to pay Fox four more years.

Having a 6'10 shooter who can score on high volume without needing the ball would be a nice addition to the offense. Defensively, he is a good isolation defender with his length and height playing a factor.

Off ball, he tends to struggle navigating screens, as well as protecting the rim, but that wouldn't be an issue with the Spurs and Victor Wembanyama. Imagine a starting five consisting of Stephon Castle, Harper, Porter Jr., Vassell, or Julian Champagnie, and Wembanyama. The size alone would be tantalizing.

Replacing Fox with Harper and Vassell or Champagnie with Porter Jr. would make the Spurs bigger and possibly much better. It would cost them multiple firsts but would get an albatross off the books, unleash Castle and Harper, and give them a shooting upgrade. Seems like a no-brainer in my book.

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