De’Aaron Fox can sign an extension with the Sacramento Kings this offseason but it appears he doesn’t intend on doing so. According to The Athletic’s Anthony Slater and Sam Amick, there are two reasons why Fox has decided against putting pen to paper on a new deal.
“Fox’s future looms in the background too, as league sources say the All-Star guard has decided not to sign an extension this year, in part, because he wants to see how the roster takes shape for the long-haul. Fox, who has two seasons left on his current deal, wants to win at the highest level and could also qualify for a significantly larger max if he makes All-NBA.”
While some Kings fans might be alarmed by this, I don’t think they should be too worried, as this appears to be more about the potential deal he can get than the roster. Fox has two years left on the five-year, $163 million deal he signed with the Kings in 2020 and it makes sense for the 26-year-old to not sign an extension now.
Fox didn’t make any of the All-NBA teams in 2024, despite averaging 26.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 2.0 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game in the 2023-24 campaign. It meant the one-time All-Star was not eligible to get a four-year, $269 million supermax contract.
The max that Fox can get this offseason is a three-year, $167 million extension, which is quite low in comparison, By not signing it, he is backing himself to make an All-NBA team next year and then be eligible for the supermax.
It appears to be what he did in the 2023 offseason too, as Fox reportedly rejected a two-year, $105 million deal from the Kings. He was hoping to make the All-NBA team in 2024 to get more money but things just didn’t pan out that way.
The Kings being the ninth seed with a 46-36 record probably played a part in that. I expect them to be better next season and if that record does improve, then Fox probably will get the nod in 2025.
As for Fox wanting to see the direction the team is going in, I think he has to like what he has seen thus far. For starters, his co-star Domantas Sabonis agreed to a contract renegotiation and extension for a total of $217 million over five years with the Kings in 2023.
Then a few weeks ago, head coach Mike Brown signed a new contract with the Kings that takes him through the 2026-27 season. The franchise also managed to hold on to Malik Monk, as NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski reported the guard intends to sign a four-year, $78 million deal.
“ESPN Sources: Free agent G Malik Monk intends to sign a four-year, $78 million deal — including a player option — to return to the Sacramento Kings. Monk had career-bests of 15 points and five assists on his way to the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year runner-up.”
The Kings also reportedly offered the 13th pick of the 2024 NBA Draft to the Chicago Bulls for Alex Caruso, but the offer was turned down. It sure looks like the front office is being aggressive and wants to make win-now moves. Fox would appreciate that greatly and I expect him to remain with the Kings, who drafted him with the fifth pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, for a very long time.
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