By Mike Finger, Columnist | San Antonio Express-News (SAEN), 2025-08-05 16:02:21
由生成式人工智能翻译，译文内容可能不准确或不完整，以原文为准。
圣安东尼奥马刺队后卫德阿龙·福克斯（4号）在2025年3月12日，星期三，于圣安东尼奥弗罗斯特银行中心举行的一场对阵达拉斯独行侠队的NBA比赛中，作为首发球员被介绍出场。
本周，马刺队承诺在2026年至2030年间向一名球员支付2.29亿美元，此举无疑是投下了一张明确的信任票。
这张信任票，投给了迪伦·哈珀 (Dylan Harper) 的跳投。
投给了斯蒂芬·卡斯尔 (Stephon Castle) 的全能身手。
投给了维克托·文班亚马 (Victor Wembanyama) 那深不可测的潜力。
当然，也投给了德阿龙·福克斯 (De’Aaron Fox) 本人。
福克斯，这位27岁的控球后卫，本周签下了一份顶薪续约合同，他将是兑现这些支票的人。但如果马刺不相信球队能收获顶薪级别的回报，他们是绝不会开出这份合同的。
而在福克斯这份大合同的最理想情境下，哈珀、卡斯尔和文班亚马也将在未来各自赢得一份顶薪。
如果这三位球员都能在福克斯身边茁壮成长，那就意味着球队的许多决策都已走上正轨。
这意味着，已经在向某位阿根廷籍马刺高管请教的哈珀，将不断丰富他的“马努·吉诺比利 (Manu Ginobili) 入门套装”。
这意味着，以控卫身份被选中、却能防守至少三个位置的卡斯尔，将在持续接受克里斯·保罗 (Chris Paul) 远程指导的同时，融入更多科怀·伦纳德 (Kawhi Leonard) 的特质。
而这也意味着，文班亚马将在这群队友的环绕下制霸内线，球队的场上空间被合理拉开，对手的强点被有效限制，一个年轻的核心阵容已准备好将其巅峰状态延续到下一个十年。
你看，马刺之所以愿意付给福克斯这么多钱，并非因为他们需要福克斯与文班亚马的搭档效果好过卡斯尔，也不是要好过哈珀未来可能达到的水平。他们付钱给福克斯，是因为他们相信，当文班亚马身边同时拥有这三位后场时，他将变得无可阻挡。
他们期待福克斯不负这份合同。
他们也同样期待哈珀和卡斯尔能配得上这份合同的价值。
要让这一切奏效，哈珀需要扮演比控球后卫更多的角色。将他与吉诺比利——篮球史上最“妖”、最具竞争性的球员之一——相提并论，既不公平也不现实，但哈珀的身材与技术的结合，确实让他能像当年的马努一样杀入篮下。
内华达州，拉斯维加斯 - 7月12日：在2025年7月12日于内华达州拉斯维加斯托马斯&马克中心举行的一场2025年NBA夏季联赛比赛中，圣安东尼奥马刺队的迪伦·哈珀（2号）在上半场持球突破圣安东尼奥马刺队的约什·乌杜杰（36号）。
如果哈珀能像吉诺比利一样，逐渐学会在分担控球任务的同时，也意识到身边的矮个后卫能将他解放出来，去完成许多酷炫的无球战术呢？如果哈珀能像吉诺比利一样，在进入联盟的第五个赛季前，每个赛季都提升自己的三分命中率，并最终突破40%大关呢？
如果司职侧翼的卡斯尔，能不断打磨自己的投篮，同时让联盟中最高产的控卫、分卫和小前锋们都叫苦不迭呢？
又如果福克斯，凭借他作为精英级别关键得分手的履历，能为这支新秀云集的队伍注入恰到好处的季后赛经验，帮助他们在未来二到四年里一步一个台阶呢？
是的，未来某个时刻，马刺可能不再需要福克斯。当哈珀、卡斯尔和文班亚马都拿到顶薪时，马刺也许会觉得福克斯的薪资空间可以有更好的用途。
但即便是在那种最理想的情况下，福克斯的合同也并非无法交易。到了2028或2029年，或许会有球队需要一位经验丰富的控球后卫，并视这份合同为一笔划算的买卖。
的确，马刺在得到福克斯时，并不知道他们之后能选中哈珀。也的确，联盟中有一些人曾猜测，这份最新的乐透好运是否会让马刺重新评估，授予福克斯顶薪是否是正确的举动。
但从马刺的角度来看，福克斯与文班亚马搭档的那些曾让他们心动不已的前景，从未改变。从很多方面来说，他们就是为彼此而生的。而且，在福克斯已经主导了一笔交易来到圣安东尼奥，将他的信任寄托给一支连续六年无缘季后赛的球队之后，如果马刺选择收回续约承诺呢？
这不仅会伤害到福克斯，对于那些正考虑向马刺展现同样信任的其他球员来说，又会造成怎样的影响？
球队的阵容终将变得昂贵。但明智的管理层总有办法应对。刚刚夺得NBA总冠军的俄克拉荷马城雷霆队，阵中就有三位签下顶薪续约的球员——谢伊·吉尔杰斯-亚历山大 (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander)、切特·霍姆格伦 (Chet Holmgren) 和 杰伦·威廉姆斯 (Jalen Williams)——但雷霆队已经积累了足够的选秀资产和年轻天赋，来不断填补他们身边的空缺。马刺为此筹备多年，也同样有能力做到这一点。
所以，马刺当然会坚持原计划，这不仅仅是因为他们相信福克斯会兑现他的价值。
更是因为他们相信，配得上这份价值的，绝不会只有他一个人。
San Antonio Spurs De’Aaron Fox (4) joins the team after having surgery on his left hand during game against the 76ers. San Antonio Spurs v Philadelphia 76ers on Friday, March 21,2025 at the Frost Bank Center.
San Antonio Spurs’ De’Aaron Fox and Keldon Johnson smile as they prepare to throw out t-shirts to fans after the NBA game against the Toronto Raptors at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Sunday, April 13, 2025. The Spurs defeated the Raptors 125-118 on Fan Appreciation Night.
San Antonio Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox (4) talks with referee J.T. Orr (72) about a foul called on the Spurs during an NBA game against the Dallas Mavericks at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Wednesday, March 12, 2025. The Spurs defeated the Mavericks, 126-116.
点击查看原文：Why the Spurs showed faith in De'Aaron Fox and those around him
Why the Spurs showed faith in De’Aaron Fox and those around him
San Antonio Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox (4) is introduced as a starter before playing the Dallas Mavericks in an NBA game at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Wednesday, March 12, 2025.
By promising this week to pay one man $229 million from 2026 to 2030, the Spurs issued an unmistakable vote of confidence.
In Dylan Harper’s jump shot.
In Stephon Castle’s versatility.
In Victor Wembanyama’s extra gear.
And yes, in De’Aaron Fox, too.
Fox, the 27-year-old point guard who signed a maximum-level contract extension this week, is the guy who’ll be cashing the checks. But the Spurs wouldn’t be writing them if they didn’t believe the maximum-level outcome is coming.
And in the best-case scenario for Fox’s big extension? Harper, Castle and Wembanyama each earn one, as well.
If all three of those guys thrive with Fox around, that means lots of things will have gone right.
It will mean Harper, who’s already seeking the counsel of a certain Argentinian Spurs executive, keeps adding to his Manu Ginobili starter kit.
It will mean Castle, drafted as a point guard but capable of guarding at least three positions, mixes a little more Kawhi Leonard into his continued remote mentorship from Chris Paul.
And it will mean Wembanyama dominates in the middle of all of them, with the floor properly spaced and opponents’ strengths properly neutralized and a young core poised to hold its peak into the next decade.
See, the reason the Spurs are paying Fox all that money isn’t that they need him to be better with Wembanyama than Castle is, or better with Wembanyama than Harper can be. They’re paying Fox because they think Wembanyama will be unstoppable next to all three of them.
They expect Fox to live up to this deal.
They expect Harper and Castle to live up to it, too.
For this to work, Harper needs to be more than a point guard. It’s unfair and unrealistic to compare him to Ginobili, one of the most bat-swatting bonkers competitors in basketball history, but his blend of size and skill does enable him to get to the rim the way Manu did.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 12: Dylan Harper #2 of the San Antonio Spurs drives against Josh Uduje #36 of the San Antonio Spurs in the first half of a 2025 NBA Summer League game at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 12, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
What if Harper, like Ginobili, grows to learn that he can share ball-handling duties with the smaller guard next to him, while also realizing that the smaller guard can free him to do lots of cool off-ball stuff? What if Harper, like Ginobili, improves his 3-point-percentage every season through his fifth in the league, when he’s over 40%?
What if Castle, playing on the wing, keeps honing his shot while making life miserable for the most prolific point guards, shooting guards and small forwards in the league?
And what if Fox, with his track record as an elite clutch scorer, gives this novice group just enough postseason know-how to take steps forward in each of the next two to four years?
Yes, there might come a point when the Spurs don’t need Fox anymore. And when Harper, Castle and Wembanyama cash it, there might be a time when the Spurs decide Fox’s cap hit could be better utilized in a different way.
But in that best-case scenario? It’s not like Fox’s deal would be untradeable. In 2028 or 2029, there might be a team in need of an experienced point guard who sees it as a bargain.
It’s true that the Spurs acquired Fox before they knew they would be able to draft Harper. And it’s true that some around the league wondered if that newest dose of lottery luck would make them reevaluate whether awarding max money to Fox was the right move.
But the way the Spurs see it, what long tantalized them about Fox’s fit next to Wembanyama hasn’t changed. In many ways they’re made for each other. And if they’d decided to back off the extension after Fox had steered a trade to San Antonio, placing his faith in a franchise that hasn’t made the playoffs in six years?
How would that have gone over, not only with Fox, but with other players considering that same show of faith?
The roster will get expensive eventually. Smart franchises are able to manage that. Fresh off their NBA championship, Oklahoma City has three players – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams – signed to max extensions, but the Thunder has amassed enough draft capital and young talent to keep filling in the gaps around them. The Spurs, having prepared for this for years, are in position to do the same.
So of course they’re sticking with the plan, and not only because they believe Fox will live up to the money.
It’s because they believe he won’t be the only one to earn it.
By Mike Finger, Columnist, via San Antonio Express-News
