The Sacramento Kings are now reportedly open to trading De’Aaron Fox and they might have taken that step based on his agent Rich Paul’s advice. The Athletic’s Sam Amick was told that Paul informed the Kings it would be wise to trade Fox sooner rather than later.
“Yet with Fox having declined extension offers from the Kings, and with his side continuing to signal that he has no plans to sign one this summer, the source said Fox’s agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports, recently informed the Kings that it would be wise to move him sooner rather than later. Even if it’s not to the team of his choosing.”
It was previously reported that Paul had informed teams that Fox wouldn’t be signing an extension with the Kings. The expectation was that the one-time All-Star would push for a trade after the season but it looks like he might be on his way out before the Feb. 6 deadline.
Despite the Kings going 11-3 in their last 14 games under new head coach Doug Christie, Fox isn’t interested in sticking around. As for where he wants to go, Amick states that his associates have not revealed that yet. He did add, though, that the San Antonio Spurs have long been touted as the 27-year-old’s preferred landing spot.
“Across the league, the San Antonio Spurs — and the prospect of pairing Fox with the future face of the league in Victor Wembanyama — have long been seen as the likely destination of choice.”
Fox, who is averaging 25.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 1.5 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game in 2024-25, and Victor Wembanyama would be quite the pairing. Kings insider James Ham has also reported that San Antonio is where the guard would like to go.
“According to multiple sources, if De’Aaron Fox leaves the Kings via trade, his preferred landing spot is the San Antonio Spurs. It could be an interesting couple of days in Sacramento.”
The 20-23 Spurs do have the assets to pull off a trade, but Fox’s camp is open to going elsewhere too. He has been linked with the Houston Rockets but NBA insider Marc Stein has been told they won’t be going after him now.
“There will be inevitable trade connections made between the Rockets and De’Aaron Fox, but league sources tell (me) that Houston’s in-season intentions remain unchanged: Let this current group see how far it can go.”
The Rockets are second in the West with a 31-14 record and want to see how far this core can go before making a big move. It is perhaps an understandable decision, but it could backfire.
Another team linked with Fox that might not be in the running is the Brooklyn Nets. Insider Ian Begley reports they are monitoring the situation but are more likely to look to acquire him in the offseason.
“The Nets, per sources, are among the teams that view De’Aaron Fox as a trade target and have been monitoring the Fox situation in SAC. ESPN reports Kings are expected to listen to offers ahead of trade deadline but Fox has preferred destination. He is under contract through 2025-26. Nets, obviously, have significant trade assets to use to acquire a player of Fox’s caliber. There will be plenty of teams calling the Kings on Fox ahead of the Feb 6 trade deadline.”
“Nets definitely view De’Aaron Fox as a trade target. But it only makes sense for them if he is available in the offseason. SAC is under no time pressure to get a deal done before the deadline and can revisit this in the offseason, if it chooses. Another complicating factor in the pursuit of Fox: ESPN reports that Fox has a specific destination in mind. That destination is unclear. FWIW: Several opposing teams monitoring the Fox/SAC situation believed San Antonio was among the teams he’d like to play for.”
All things considered, it looks like if Fox does get traded before the deadline, it will most probably be to the Spurs. There isn’t much time to get a deal done, though.
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