Wow, wow, wow. Now that it's over, we can finally reflect on perhaps the single worst NBA Finals blown lead in league history.
Every Spurs fan you know was left utterly speechless when De'Aaron Fox threw Game Four against the New York Knicks away as the clock reached zero - worse still, he couldn't reverse his karma in Game Five, shooting 3/15 in a must-win game that ultimately doomed San Antonio.
A player long praised for his level-headed abilities in the clutch, Fox proved the exact opposite in the NBA Finals en route to being gentleman's swept by the Knicks. As the Spurs look to return to where the lights are brightest next season and beyond, Fox's contract - valued up to $61.7M in the 2029-2030 season - seems a massive wound to an otherwise healthy ecosystem.
Despite all the crunch time woes, all the money he'll be earning the remainder of the decade, and all the controversy - it's precisely now that Atlanta should strike while the iron is red-hot, and acquire Fox for pennies on the dollar.
De'Aaron Fox's price tag has never been lower
Earlier this season, the Spurs inadvertently ended the Trae Young era in Atlanta. By extending their lead guard to an incredibly lucrative four year, $229M extension, San Antonio forced Atlanta's hand, ultimately refusing to put pen to paper for their own lead guard.
Things could not have worked out better for the Hawks - Jalen Johnson, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and even Dyson Daniels have seen increased burn with the ball in their hands, and the cap books are as clear as day thanks to CJ McCollum's fully cleared $30M from the 2025-2026 season. McCollum looks to return on a much cheaper deal next season, begging the question - where will the money go now?
Enter De'Aaron Fox.
San Antonio may not be showing it now, but after the 2026-2027 season concludes, Victor Wembanyama will earn what is likely to be the heftiest contract extension in league history. Wembanyama has already earned All-NBA, All-Defense, DPOY, and quite nearly MVP honors, lending to the notion he won't be cheap at all next summer.
Add to this the looming paydays for star guards Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper, and you have a recipe for chaos. Fox is clearly the odd man out, and his departure will likely arrive sooner than later.
With how atrocious Fox performed in the NBA Finals, it's likely San Antonio would accept a minimal return for the lead guard. After all, they only forfeited a few low-value first round picks to acquire him in the first place. In fact, it's quite possible the Spurs would need to attach picks of their own to offload his unfavorable contract.
De'Aaron Fox would be the perfect fit with the backcourt-bereft Hawks
Despite his eyesore of a contract and poor playoff performance, Fox is exactly what the Hawks need.
Atlanta was missing on-ball creation, and it showed badly against the Knicks after Game Three of their first round series. Having traded Trae Young away, so much responsibility fell on ancillary ball handlers that weren't quite up to the challenge.
If the Hawks were to simply send cap filler over to the Spurs - perhaps an accepted Kuminga player option, Buddy Hield, and Corey Kispert - I'd wager Atlanta might even be able to re-acquire their own 2028 first back from the Spurs by taking on Fox's contract.
Onsi Saleh has often exhibited his prowess in capitalizing on desperate organizations - chiefly, his masterful gambit to rob the Pelicans of their 8th overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. The Spurs are no doubt desperate at present, looking for a way to put their embarrassing demise in the rearview.
Bear in mind that Fox was playing through injury during the 2026 playoffs - if this is his worst, sign me up for a handful of future seasons with a fresh, healthy version of the clutch guard we once knew and loved in Sacramento.
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