De’Aaron Fox scratched from Spurs preseason opener

The Spurs face a backcourt dilemma as they balance De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle and rising guard Dylan Harper. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported that the team views Harper as its second-best player, despite plans for Fox and Castle to start and Harper to lead the second unit. Harper’s emergence could complicate Fox’s role, but a reserve spot for either guard could also give San Antonio a high-level playmaker when Victor Wembanyama sits, an area the team needs to improve. The three-guard combination also depends on better perimeter shooting, particularly from the corners, to deter defenses from helping off shooters and clogging Wembanyama’s path to the basket.