Celtics Could Trade For De’Aaron Fox? What a Trade Would Look Like Amid Brewing Spurs Drama

After Dylan Harper and Stephon Castle set the stage for potential San Antonio Spurs lineup drama in the new season, an NBA insider suggested that De’Aaron Fox could be on the Boston Celtics‘ trade radar before the 2026-27 trade deadline.

If you somehow missed it over the last couple of days, the budding Spurs star is not interested in being a super sub again in the 2026-27 season. After San Antonio lucked into the No. 2 pick of the 2025 NBA Draft, they selected the Rutgers star, and because Fox was already on the roster, the talented guard spent his rookie season coming off the bench.

It benefited the Spurs in their rise to a power in the West. However, after a strong NBA debut in 2025-26, the 20-year-old told GQ last week, “F** no. I ain’t coming off no bench.” An opinion that his teammate Stephon Castle responded to by saying, “Bro, all you got to know is you going to be in the starting lineup.”

Those thoughts have created an uncomfortable situation in San Antonio because Fox is locked into the starting shooting guard spot. Especially since the Spurs gave him a four-year, $221 million extension in 2025. The bold thoughts have led to speculation that the two-time All-Star won’t be in Texas much longer.

That is probably why The Athletic’s James Edward III recently suggested Fox could be a trade target for the Celtics before the next trade deadline.

“Another name just to give you a name that I think would work OK with how Boston plays — De’Aaron Fox. I think the Spurs are going to have to make a decision on that with Castle and the emergence of Dylan Harper,” Edwards III told the Celtics Daily podcast.
trade for De’Aaron Fox cost?

Mar 10, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard De’aaron Fox (4) looks on in the second half against the Boston Celtics at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images

So what would a trade for Fox look like if it did happen early next year? In the end, the only way a deal has any chance of happening is if the money side of a deal has to match up. Which means there are two routes for the Celtics to complete a trade.

One pathway would be a swap for Paul George and adding a future first-round pick in the deal for the 28-year-old. Another option would be to send fan favorite Derrick White and Sam Hauser to the Spurs. Of the two deals, the trade for White and Hauser would probably intrigue the Spurs the most. However, that is the agreement the Celtics are less likely to make unless they have a surprisingly bad start in the new season.

While Edwards III believes Fox could be a trade Boston targets in a future trade, the money side of a deal and what the Spurs would take in return make a potential swap seem unlikely.