Fox Trade Talk, Wembanyama's Case, and San Antonio's Crowded…

By the Spurs Nightly Desk · Thursday, September 17

San Antonio's beat writers spent the week on speculation, not news: trade scenarios for De'Aaron Fox, arguments for Victor Wembanyama's standing, and questions about who starts once Dylan Harper is ready. None of it is confirmed; the contracts and last season's numbers are where the actual answers live.

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Is a De'Aaron Fox trade actually close?

Air Alamo's Ty Small has floated two separate trade proposals for Fox this month, and both concluded the deal creates more problems than it solves. Jahlil Williams tied Keldon Johnson's future role to whatever San Antonio decides about Fox. No trade has been reported by any source; Fox remains under contract at $49.8 million, the largest number on San Antonio's books.

Does Wembanyama belong with the game's best players?

Air Alamo writers Cal Durrett and Jahlil Williams both made that case this week, and Stephen A. Smith's on-air comments, relayed by Ty Small, added to it. Last season Wembanyama averaged 25.0 points, 11.5 rebounds and 3.1 assists over 64 games, production that backs the argument up. The debate settles nothing; the season averages already made the case before anyone wrote about it.

Is the backcourt rotation about to get crowded?

Cal Durrett argues Harper belongs ahead of Fox in the best lineup, and separately that Vassell's job isn't safe; Ty Small says Castle already outplays the credit he gets. Harper hasn't played a game here yet. Vassell is signed for $27.0 million, second-largest deal on the team, and shot 38.4 percent from three last season. Castle averaged 16.7 points and 7.4 assists as a rookie starter.

Can Tobias Harris' jump shot hold up under a bigger role?

Air Alamo's Cal Durrett says Harris' shot will be tested right away in San Antonio's offense. Harris hit 36.8 percent from three across 63 games last season on a $15.0 million contract, the fifth-largest deal on the team. That mark is solid; whether it holds under more attention is the open question Durrett raised, not one last season's numbers can answer.

The verdictNone of this week's questions are resolved, and most won't be until camp opens: the contracts already on the books say more about San Antonio's actual plans than any trade column does.

Has De'Aaron Fox actually been traded?

No. Air Alamo has published trade proposals as speculation, but no source has reported an actual deal, and Fox remains signed at $49.8 million.

Is Dylan Harper starting over De'Aaron Fox this season?

No decision has been made; that's an argument one columnist made, not a lineup San Antonio has confirmed. Harper has not yet played a game for the team.