De'Aaron Fox was awarded a max-contract extension by the San Antonio Spurs last summer, and they probably wish they could have that one back. Fox had a terrible showing against the New York Knicks in the NBA Finals, and despite an All-Star selection, his regular-season performance was a regression from his Sacramento King days. It's a reminder that the Denver Nuggets don't have it so bad with Jamal Murray and his max contract.
Of course, it's a different role and offense with the Spurs, but Fox only averaged 15.6 points in the playoffs, down from his 18.6 in the regular season. And he shot an unimpressive 75.8% from the free-throw line in the playoffs while missing many key shots in the clutch. During Fox's 45 games with the Kings in 2024-25, prior to his trade to the Spurs, Fox was averaging 25.0 points but on a higher volume.
Murray keeps getting better after his extension
Fox's poor showing in the playoffs could always be corrected, and so could Murray's poor defensive showing with a little more effort on that side of the ball, and if the Nuggets can get someone else up on the perimeter to help shoulder the work. But there isn't much wrong with Murray's offense, and he went cold at a bad time against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Despite not having much "Murray Flurry" energy, he still managed to score 30 points in three of the six playoff games, and he managed to get his normal allotment of assists and rebounds. Plus, Murray showed elite free-throw shooting at 97.5%, and he took a leap forward this year, making his first All-Star Game and getting his first selection to the All-NBA Third Team.
Murray set a career high for points and finished 12th in the league in scoring at 25.4 points, and doesn't look to be slowing down. Not unless you also slow down everyone else around him and Nikola Jokic, like Rudy Gobert and the Timberwolves did.
Murray's value has never been higher if the Nuggets do trade him
While it seems like it would be unlikely for the Nuggets to split up the best two-man game of this generation, perhaps ever, it could still happen. At least the Nuggets would be getting the best value they possibly could for Murray. Fox, on the other hand, is at an all-time low with the Spurs after their 4-1 series loss to the Knicks. In fact, the Spurs may be stuck with him on that contract.
At least if the Nuggets do run it back with Murray, they're going to get offense and value for their max contract point guard without thinking about it. They just need to avoid the Timberwolves in the playoffs next season.
Add us as a preferred source on Google