After the San Antonio Spurs lost to the New York Knicks in the NBA Finals, there’s really only one thing fans want to talk about: how much better Dylan Harper was than De’Aaron Fox.

It was both of their Finals debuts, and Harper–coming off the bench–averaged an excellent 18 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 1.2 turnovers while getting to the rim with ease. Fox, meanwhile, posted 12.8 points, six assists, and 2.8 turnovers across the five games.

While calls to trade Fox have heated up, there are bigger fish to fry this offseason. After all, Fox is an All-Star and is usually one of the steadier hands on the roster. Still, with a full summer staring down the organization, the team has to grapple with a key question: is it already time to cut ties with Swipa?

Fans Are in Agreement Over De’Aaron Fox

Check social media, and fans are packed into two camps. The first is calling for Harper to be the day-one starting point guard next season. The more extreme side is calling for Fox to be traded, even if it means giving up a draft pick in the process.

While the Spurs are expected to eventually trade the veteran guard, is this summer really the best time to do it? Harper did manage to step up, but can the Spurs run things back with an inexperienced backcourt of Harper and Stephon Castle?

The consensus, it seems, is yes.

As long as Victor Wembanyama remains healthy, it seems like a given that the Spurs will make the postseason. As they proved this season, it doesn’t really matter who stands in their way, they’re the best team in the West. With 82 games for Harper to settle down and get his jitters out, handing him the keys to the offense as soon as possible seems like the right move.

Fox, meanwhile, is about to enter the first season of a four-year, $229 million extension. He’s one of the highest-paid guards in the league, and after his Finals showing, doesn’t have the trade value fans would like.

Keeping in mind that Fox forced his way to the Spurs last season, there’s reason to believe that he might be willing to take a role reduction, offering fans the best of both worlds.

Predicting De’Aaron Fox’s Role Next Season

Five bad games can’t make or break a player’s career. After the Finals, it’s clear that Harper is (or will be very soon) the second best player on the roster. At this point, there’s no reason for the Spurs to keep him on the bench.

Mitch Johnson seems committed to Fox, at least for now, saying, “De’Aaron Fox will have the basketball in his hands at the end of the game” after Game 4. Maybe his tune has changed since, but there’s no denying that Fox is still a very good player.

The Spurs have a history of keeping very good players on the bench. Look at Harper or his mentor, Manu Ginobili, for examples.

With $229 million in the bank, Fox might be willing to accept becoming the Spurs’ Sixth Man, provided that he still sees the court for around 30 minutes per night. This season, the Spurs had a three-headed monster in the backcourt of Fox, Stephon Castle, and Harper. Expect them to run it back with the same core, although maybe with slightly different roles.

And for the fans who want nothing more than to see Fox shipped off to an NBA backwater like Brooklyn: let the start of next season be what makes up your mind. If he has a rough November, you can feel vindicated.