The San Antonio Spurs may have a major decision to make regarding De’Aaron Fox, with one bold trade proposal suggesting the franchise could move on from its veteran point guard and completely reshape the roster around Victor Wembanyama.
San Antonio entered last season with legitimate championship aspirations, and although the Spurs ultimately fell short, their run to the NBA Finals demonstrated just how close they could be to becoming a genuine powerhouse in the Western Conference.
But the Finals also exposed several weaknesses.
One of the biggest questions surrounded Fox.
The former All-Star battled injuries throughout the series and struggled to make the kind of impact San Antonio expected from him. His difficulties became significant enough that some observers even questioned whether rookie Dylan Harper should receive more responsibility alongside Wembanyama.
That has now opened the door to an intriguing question: Could the Spurs actually consider building their next championship team without Fox?
A blockbuster idea has emerged
One proposed trade would send Fox, Luke Kornet and a substantial package of draft capital to the New Orleans Pelicans.
In return, San Antonio would land Dejounte Murray and Trey Murphy III.
It is the kind of blockbuster that would immediately transform the Spurs’ roster.
Murray would provide another proven scoring option and bring familiarity with the franchise, having previously established himself in San Antonio before eventually moving on.
Murphy, meanwhile, could be arguably the most intriguing piece of the deal.
The athletic wing would give Wembanyama another versatile two-way teammate capable of defending multiple positions while also providing the perimeter shooting necessary to create more space around San Antonio’s superstar.
Together, Murray and Murphy are tied to contracts worth a combined $226 million, underlining the scale of the potential move.
And while the financial commitment would be enormous, the basketball implications could be even bigger.
What happens to Fox?
The most fascinating consequence would be the impact on San Antonio’s young backcourt.
If Fox were moved, the Spurs could hand more responsibility to Harper and Stephon Castle, two young players viewed as potentially important pieces of the franchise’s long-term future.
Harper, in particular, already showed during the Finals why some believe he could eventually become a better fit beside Wembanyama.
His size gives San Antonio additional defensive versatility, while his physicality allows him to handle bigger guards and wings more effectively than Fox.
That doesn’t necessarily mean Fox is suddenly a bad player.
Far from it.
But the Spurs have reached a point where every roster decision must be viewed through one question: What gives Wembanyama the best possible chance of winning championships?
That could eventually force San Antonio to make some difficult choices.
A completely different Spurs team
Trading Fox for Murray and Murphy would represent much more than a simple change at point guard.
It would alter the identity of the team.
San Antonio would gain additional size, defensive versatility, wing depth and shooting while simultaneously creating a clearer path for Harper and Castle to develop.
Murphy’s ability to operate without dominating the ball could be particularly valuable alongside Wembanyama, while Murray could shoulder some of the offensive burden when the French superstar needs support.
For a Spurs team that has already demonstrated it can compete at the highest level, such a move could be viewed as an attempt to eliminate some of the weaknesses exposed during the Finals.
Of course, this remains a trade proposal rather than a confirmed Spurs plan. There is no guarantee San Antonio would seriously pursue such a blockbuster, and moving Fox would represent a significant decision after acquiring him with championship ambitions.
Nevertheless, the idea raises a fascinating possibility.
The Spurs may not need to make a huge move.
But if they decide their current formula isn’t quite enough, a Fox trade for Murray and Murphy would give San Antonio an entirely new foundation around Wembanyama — and potentially create one of the NBA’s most dangerous young cores.
