The Spurs’ current addition, De’Aaron Fox, may debut on Wednesday towards the Hawks. After a number of robust losses, San Antonio may use a jolt of vitality and the star level guard ought to be capable of present it.
It is going to be very attention-grabbing to see how Fox adapts to the Spurs and vice versa. As with each mid-season commerce, there’s not a lot time to study the terminology and develop chemistry with teammates earlier than enjoying video games that matter. That stated, Fox ought to assist instantly in a number of areas, particularly on offense. Let’s take a better look.
The Fox-Wemby two-man must be lethal
The Spurs rank twenty eighth within the league in possessions completed by the pick-and-roll ball handler and twenty fifth in factors per possession in that setting, in accordance with Synergy Sports activities. It is smart since there was no elite menace to assault after a ball display.
That ought to change now that Fox is round. The proficient level guard ranks fifteenth within the league in area objective makes an attempt within the pick-and-roll and is without doubt one of the best scorers within the league in that setting regardless of his excessive quantity. He can rating from all around the ground, however a key to his success is his floater, which he deploys completely when going through drop protection. He makes use of the display to get previous his defender, assaults the massive man, who can’t commit for worry of the cross, and stops to launch a lefty floater whereas the defender backpedals.
Fox being a quantity pick-and-roll scorer may imply fewer pick-and-roll scoring alternatives for Wembanyama, however he ought to get a lot better seems to be. The pick-and-pop ought to proceed to be there for Vic but when Fox will get it going with the floater, it can power the protection to decide to stopping him as a substitute of focusing all their consideration on Wemby, opening up lob alternatives. Their pick-and-roll can be “a choose your poison” kind of scenario as they will each rating and sending assistance will imply leaving a shooter or cutter open. Each may assault switches, in order that’s not an answer for the protection.
There are spacing points to think about, sadly. The Spurs usually play one and generally two non-shooters, which may negatively impression the Fox-Wemby two-man recreation. Fox’s jumper and floater ought to nonetheless make him harmful and there’s all the time the choice to have Jeremy Sochan display whereas Wembanyama areas the ground, one thing San Antonio already does.
Fox’s quickness ought to assist the Spurs play with higher tempo, even within the half-court
Opponents have usually put larger gamers on Chris Paul and pressured him on inbounds to disrupt him with their physicality as a result of they knew Paul wasn’t going to have the ability to make them pay by blowing by these guys at age 39. They will’t try this to Fox, which ought to assist with tempo by getting the staff into its units faster. It would seem to be a small factor however anybody who has seen the Spurs take a very long time to arrange and must rush a shot is aware of that it issues, and the numbers again it up, as San Antonio ranks ninth in pictures taken within the final 4 seconds of the shot clock.
Fox’s quickness must also assist in transition. He’s so quick and aggressive that it could possibly take a second defender to sluggish him down. It’s one of many issues Paul himself stated when requested concerning the commerce.
Chris Paul on the commerce for De’Aaron Fox: “That’s a no brainer. You convey someone in that has been an All-Star & is aware of what it takes to win. He instructions a double staff a number of instances, particularly in transition.”
— Michael C. Wright (@mikecwright) February 4, 2025
The Spurs received’t probably soar from thirteenth in tempo to the highest 5 within the league however ought to be capable of take fewer pictures late within the clock and rating extra effectively on the break due to Fox.
Fox’s scoring prowess ought to enable others to play smaller roles
Fox will not be a pure level guard like Chris Paul and even Tre Jones, however that’s a plus in San Antonio. The Spurs wanted a main ball handler and perimeter scorer and Fox is precisely that. Actually, Fox being the clear-cut first scoring choice within the perimeter ought to assist Devin Vassell. The younger wing’s greatest points this season are his low proportion on pull-up threes and a rise in turnover proportion. A unique, extra off-ball-focused position ought to assist him, and Fox can facilitate it.
Fox may even create for others. His help proportion will not be spectacular, however in Sacramento Fox shared the ground and the management of the offense with Domantas Sabonis, among the best passing massive males within the league. Earlier than teaming up with Sabonis, his help proportion was considerably increased. There’s no cause to imagine he can’t up his playmaking if wanted, but it surely doesn’t really feel like it will likely be initially.
Poor capturing will nonetheless be an issue, however not due to Fox
Fox is a profession 33 p.c shooter and is connecting on a shade below that quantity this season, however a better take a look at the numbers reveals he shouldn’t be a legal responsibility.
Round half of Fox’s six three-point makes an attempt per recreation come on pullups and he hits 33 p.c on these. Opponents merely can not go below each display or area him out to nullify his quickness as a result of he’ll take the shot and he’ll make sufficient of them to have them rethink their technique. Off the ball, Fox is capturing simply 32 p.c on catch-and-shoot makes an attempt per recreation, undoubtedly a low quantity, however he’s making 36 p.c on his wide-open seems to be, so defenses can’t ignore him. For reference, Chris Paul is capturing 30 p.c on catch-and-shoot threes and he’s not left open.
Fox received’t repair San Antonio’s capturing and spacing points, however he shouldn’t exacerbate them both.
Fox will not be an ideal participant however he’s near an ideal match for the Spurs’ offense, which can be quicker, extra dynamic and extra balanced now that he’s round to supply a real perimeter scoring menace and permit others to play the roles they’re meant to play. The subsequent few months must be thrilling.
