De’Aaron Fox commerce rumors are right here, and the Spurs are the primary hat within the ring

The Sacramento Kings have been one of the irritating groups within the NBA to begin the 2024-25 season. Expectations had been excessive for the Kings after buying DeMar DeRozan over the summer season on a $76.7 million deal, however up to now the one factor Sacramento is doing constantly is shedding shut video games.

If the season ended right now, the Kings wouldn’t even make the Western Convention play-in event. Sacramento is 13-15 general — sitting with the No. 19 profitable share within the league regardless of being No. 11 in net-rating. The largest offender has been their crunch-time woes: Sacramento is 6-11 in clutch video games this yr, tied for essentially the most losses within the league in clutch conditions with the tank-tastic Hornets and Raptors.

Because the Kings face an uphill climb within the Western Convention the remainder of the best way, they now additionally must take care of commerce hypothesis round their finest participant.

De’Aaron Fox turned down an extension from the Kings over the offseason. His contract solely has another season left after this yr, that means Sacramento both must lock him down or commerce him earlier than they danger shedding him for nothing in 2026 free company. Fox’s agent Wealthy Paul is already in discussions with the Kings about their future, in response to a brand new report by Sam Amick of The Athletic.

If Fox decides he doesn’t an extension with the group trending in mediocrity, Sacramento would possibly want to contemplate commerce choices — both by the Feb. 6 deadline or this summer season. One group is already making their curiosity recognized, in response to The Athletic: the San Antonio Spurs. Per Amick:

In the meantime, rival executives are monitoring the Fox scenario carefully and league sources say one group specifically — the San Antonio Spurs — is positioning itself to pursue the Houston native as a doable accomplice for Victor Wembanyama, ought to Fox change into accessible. Barring a big Kings turnaround, others are absolutely shut behind.

The Spurs at the moment sit in eleventh, one spot forward of the Kings within the Western Convention standings. San Antonio has been constructing slowly round Victor Wembanyama so far, however with the sophomore huge man rapidly leveling up, the group is aware of it will likely be time to push its chips in quickly.

San Antonio owns the Atlanta Hawks’ unprotected first spherical picks in 2025 and 2027. They personal the Chicago Bulls’ top-10 protected decide in 2025, which has dwindling protections by the 2027 draft. They’ve the Minnesota Timberwolves’ unprotected 2031 first-round decide. The Spurs even have all of their very own future first-round picks.

For sure, San Antonio has the draft compensation any group would covet in a commerce for a participant as wonderful as Fox. Add like three first-round picks going to the Kings on this deal, and there’s at the least a framework of a commerce that is smart.

Can the Kings get Stephon Fort or Devin Vassell on this deal? Vassell is extra probably, however it nonetheless seems like a stretch for a group that might be hoping to make a giant leap up the standings in making this deal.

Do the De’Aaron Fox commerce rumors cross the sniff check?

Sure and no.

The Kings have been working like a group that badly needs to win proper now. They paid DeRozan a giant deal at age-35, and gave up a 2031 decide swap to the Wolves to do it. Sacramento solely has one playoff look since 2005-2006. The franchise hasn’t gained a playoff collection since 2004.

Sacramento’s powerful first-round defeat to the Warriors in 2023 was speculated to be the beginning of their rise round Fox, Domantas Sabonis, and Keegan Murray. Fox and Sabonis have been enjoying at a close to All-NBA degree ever since, however Murray and fellow wing shooter Kevin Huerter each can’t hit a shot this yr. Sacramento’s offense is sweet (No. 8 within the league in the mean time) however not fairly as elite because it hoped. The protection is performing about in addition to they might fairly anticipate at No. 14 general, however the Kings will all the time have issues on that finish of the ground with this personnel.

There’s simply not a lot room for upward mobility within the West. The Timberwolves, Suns, and Warriors would all be within the play-in event proper now, which might qualify as a catastrophe for every of these franchises. The Spurs are coming. Even getting previous a middling group just like the Lakers gained’t be straightforward for Sacramento.

The seriousness of Fox doubtlessly leaving the Kings in free company is tough to gauge proper now. Earlier than Paul George left the Clippers for the 76ers over the summer season, it had been years since a max free agent modified groups in free company. Nowadays, gamers usually take essentially the most cash they’ll get from an extension on their incumbent group, after which power their approach out.

If Fox actually needs to depart Sacramento, although, it’s doable he may simply flip down the extension to power the Kings’ hand with out trying just like the dangerous man within the course of.

I don’t assume Sacramento goes to commerce Fox on the deadline until issues get actually dangerous. That in all probability gained’t occur for a group that also has a optimistic net-rating and is due for some clutch luck in some unspecified time in the future. Extra probably, the Kings will dangle round .500 and have sufficient of a shot at making the playoffs by way of the play-in as the top of the season attracts close to.

Finally, this Kings group gained’t be ok to win a playoff collection even when they get there, and that may put the ball again in Fox’s court docket this summer season when the following extension supply comes. The Kings might want to take a look at their future at face worth with out delusion: it’s all the time higher for a group to behave proactively in these conditions whereas they nonetheless have leverage. That leverage gained’t final endlessly.

Both approach, Fox’s identify is now formally in commerce rumors. There’s normally just one approach these conditions finish.