Why are the Spurs not allowed to choose? The truth about 229 million locking Fox!

For Fox, when the Spurs signed the 2023 All-Star with a four-year $229 million contract, from the team's perspective, this move in the free agent market has basically outlined the team's position in the new season's playoffs. However, considering the important impact of this transaction on the off-market, it is far more profound than the current one.

When the Spurs had the opportunity to trade Fox, the reason why they decided to take action was mainly because the scorer, who averaged 21.5 points per game, had already made a clear statement early on that the Spurs were his first choice team.

When the Spurs chose to trade Fox, the team's management was clear enough that this senior player, who has entered his eighth season of his career, is destined to strive for a maximum salary contract this summer.

Thanks to Fox's star defender ability, the Spurs' future blueprint can also be made possible in advance. Before last year's trade, Fox has averaged at least 25 points per game in four of the past five seasons. The most direct advantage of Fox's joining is that it has brought the team the second stable scoring point since Wenban Yama.

, especially Fox's style of holding the ball can perfectly match this talented big man. As a comprehensive scorer who is good at pick-and-roll offense, promotes conversion and fast breaks, and can also stably hit mid-range and three-pointers from the outside, it is a high-quality choice for the Spurs to form a championship lineup around. However, since Wenban Yama was reimbursed for injury in the 2024-25 season, the two core players actually only had 5 games to fight side by side, and basically did not show much value.

Therefore, it is expected that this threat to internal and external combinations will be launched at full speed when the new season starts this year.

Even if Fox is about to face the Spurs' crowded backcourt situation in the new season, this is an advantage issue that the team is happy to face. When the Spurs traded to Fox, Stephen Castle began to show his core form at the first meeting and finally successfully won the best rookie; in addition, this summer, he selected popular rookie Dylan Harper in the second draw with his draft luck.

Therefore, many fans questioned whether there would be adverse reactions in such a crowded backcourt. But from most discussions, even if the competition is large enough, Fox has become an indispensable part of this team.

Although Castle is expected to go further in the new season, and the newcomer Harper is also placed on the expectation of becoming an imminent combat power, the two are still very young and need Fox's leadership during their growth. The team's main scoring burden in the new season will still be borne by Fox, not even just one season.

From this perspective, this contract renewal represents more than just scoring and offensive tactics. Although there were earlier reports that Durant had listed the Spurs as the next choice for priority, Fox is one of the few All-Star players in the market who almost publicly promised to join the Spurs.

This is quite rare for a player who has been relying on his own development system for many years. If the Spurs don't give Fox a maximum salary to renew their contract, it is basically equivalent to sending a wrong message to all NBA stars.

By renewing the contract with the 27-year-old point guard, the Spurs not only locked in the division competitiveness in the next five years, but also made a voice public: they began to express their opinions to the top players in the league that the championship mode will be launched in the new season, and any stars are welcome to join.