De'Aaron Fox, Spurs Have to Make Same Decision as Luka Dončić

SAN ANTONIO — Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Dončić inked a three-year, $165 million maximum extension with the franchise to keep him rostered through the 2027-28 season, putting to rest a litany of concerns regarding whether he planned to make Los Angeles his long-term home.

De'Aaron Fox faces the opposite situation; his won't take nearly as long.

On Sunday, Fox became eligible for a maximum extension of his own with the San Antonio Spurs worth up to $229 million over four seasons. While it may be a no-brainer on paper, there is more to consider regarding his role and fit on the Victor Wembanyama-led roster.

Today marks the beginning of the window for De'Aaron Fox's maximum extension. It has the potential to be worth $229 million over four years. The #Spurs still have one open roster spot and two two-way deals. #PorVida
— Matt Guzman (@mattgzman) August 3, 2025

San Antonio traded for Fox at February's NBA Trade Deadline in a three-team deal that landed Zach LaVine next to DeMar DeRozan on the Sacramento Kings.

Since then, 2024 No. 4 overall pick Stephon Castle captured NBA Rookie of the Year honors and the Spurs lucked into the second pick of the 2025 NBA Draft to draft Dylan Harper. Suddenly, Fox isn't the only standout behind Wembanyama in San Antonio.

One Western Conference scout took that idea to the extreme.

"(Dylan Harper) has some (Manu) Ginóbili to his offensive game," they said. "If (his) 3-point shot ever becomes a true weapon, he makes Fox expendable and gives San Antonio a nice trade asset."

Follow up to the De’Aaron Fox situation: Per Fox’s Curry Brand Tour Host, the point guard is dealing with a muscle strain.

The injury isn’t severe; it shouldn’t impact his availability this season. Opting out of the tour was a precautionary measure. #PorVida
— Matt Guzman (@mattgzman) July 27, 2025

In short, Harper doesn't hold any leverage over Fox as a rookie. San Antonio is going to turn to its veteran point guard with an All-NBA résumé before it turns to its rookie, but neither player is to be discarded. It's the driving force behind the Spurs' positive outlook.

And the reason they're going to make sure Fox is paid.

Currently, the Spurs have one roster spot and two two-way contracts open after trading for Kelly Olynyk and signing Luke Kornet, Lindy Waters III.

Free agent guard Lindy Waters III has agreed to a one-year deal with the San Antonio Spurs, agents Shy Saee and Winston Nelson of Klutch Sports tell ESPN. Waters has shot 37% from 3 in his first four NBA seasons in Oklahoma City, Golden State and Detroit. pic.twitter.com/RuUuvXfvdf
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 23, 2025

They've also tendered qualifying offers to both Riley Minix and Harrison Ingram to return in two-way capacity, but those negotiations haven't resulted in signings to this point. Minix could be in the mix for the final standard deal

Additionally, Victor Wembanyama will become extension eligible next offseason, at which point he's to command a maximum rookie scale extension worth more than $300 million before eventually signing a supermax extension north of $500 million.

That said, Fox and Wembanyama's first extensions in San Antonio will run concurrently and hike up the price of the entire roster. The Spurs are well aware of that.

That's why Fox is going to become their first long-term investment of the Victor Wembanyama era — not counting Devin Vassell, who arrived prior to the Frenchman — a la Dončić in Los Angeles.

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