De'AaronFox

Preseason question: Fox finds himself in an uncanny place, where his work off the dribble is clearly important to San Antonio’s offense, but not so essential as to insulate him from trade rumors and rotation questions. Every stint is balanced by feel. Every game feels like a negotiation. Fox has a jitterbug style that’s difficult for even a set half-court defense to tamp down, yet there’s an open question about how it fits into the future of one of the league’s most exciting teams. The hope—and the expectation—in San Antonio is that Dylan Harper will surpass Fox, if he hasn’t already. But in the meantime, the veteran guard gives the Spurs some of the touch and nuance they need in the driving game to make the most out of the awkward, in-between possessions that tend to decide the biggest games. Fox is further along in his career than most of the Spurs roster, but he’s still figuring out how to best flank teammates who are growing by the day.