After Finals Loss, Spurs Face a Fox Decision and a Busy Offseason

San Antonio’s 2025/26 season ended overnight with a 4-1 loss to the New York Knicks in the NBA Finals, but the Spurs are still viewed as a team on the rise. They finished as runners-up after a 62-20 campaign, reached the Finals for the first time since 2014, and became the second-youngest Finals team in NBA history.

The franchise’s future is built around a young core led by Victor Wembanyama, who is expected to sign a five-year maximum extension worth $252 million, with the figure potentially rising to $303.3 million. He will be joined by 21-year-old Stephon Castle, who just completed his second NBA season, and 20-year-old Dylan Harper, who had one of the most impressive rookie seasons in recent memory.

The biggest roster question is De'Aaron Fox, who is entering the first season of his new four-year, $222 million contract. San Antonio must decide whether to keep the 28-year-old point guard despite his underwhelming Finals play, or explore a trade and let Harper move into the starting lineup. Harper reportedly outplayed Fox for much of the playoffs and Finals, and the Spurs expect Mitch Johnson to promote him from the bench to the starting five next season. Because Castle will also remain a starter and the three guards do not play well together, Fox appears the most likely candidate to be moved.

The Spurs may wait until the February trade deadline before deciding, since this season was already a major success. If Fox is made available, San Antonio may instead seek frontcourt help alongside Wembanyama. Possible targets mentioned are Lauri Markkanen, Michael Porter Jr. and Trey Murphy, though no trade has been reported. Julian Champagnie is eligible for a $3 million team option this summer and is expected to get a significant new deal, while Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson, Luke Kornet and rookie Carter Bryant are under contract. Harrison Barnes, Kelly Olynyk, Jordan McLaughlin, Lindy Waters, Bismack Biyombo and Mason Plumlee are among the players whose deals are expiring, and the team holds picks 20, 35, 42 and 44 in the upcoming draft.