De'Aaron Fox Will Bypass Three-Year, $165M Extension With Kings

[RealGM Wiretap]

De'Aaron Fox will bypass a three-year, $165 million maximum extension with the Sacramento Kings as he could sign a larger deal during the 2025 offseason. Fox can be a free agent as early as 2026.

Fox could sign a four-year, $229 million maximum extension with the Kings during the 2025 offseason. If Fox were to make an All-NBA team this season, he could sign for as much as $345 million over five years on a supermax. 

The Kings have worked closely with Fox on key roster decisions and he has made clear he wants to remain with the franchise long-term. Fox averaged a career-high 26.6 points last season. 

Fox is set to make nearly $35 million this season and $37 million next season under his current deal

Via Shams Charania/The Athletic

[Deivork]

Something is wrong.

[puja21]

Something is wrong.

Why?

Fox is turning down an avg salary of 55M for age 29-31

Versus could make All-NBA and be eligible for an average salary of almost 70M for ages 29-33.

Even at age 34, he could still sign one more big deal after that supermax

This isn't unprecedented:
Aug 2021: age 36 Chris Paul 4y 120M through age 38 season
July 2022: age 32 Dame Lillard added 3y 161M through age 36 season
Jan 2024: age 32 Kahwi Leonard 3y 150M through age 35 season
July 2024: age 34 Paul George 4y 212M through age 37 season

[saltybs]

bird in hand, or two in the bush? the fantastic Mr. Fox prefers the bush, apparently.

[jmbish87]

Something is wrong.

Classic overreaction from the forum boards.

[Pickled Prunes]

Something is wrong.

Why?

Fox is turning down an avg salary of 55M for age 29-31

Versus could make All-NBA and be eligible for an average salary of almost 70M for ages 29-33.

Even at age 34, he could still sign one more big deal after that supermax

This isn't unprecedented:
Aug 2021: age 36 Chris Paul 4y 120M through age 38 season
July 2022: age 32 Dame Lillard added 3y 161M through age 36 season
Jan 2024: age 32 Kahwi Leonard 3y 150M through age 35 season
July 2024: age 34 Paul George 4y 212M through age 37 season

You're not wrong... but there is a very good chance that all four teams regret the deals you mention. At some point teams may learn how foolish these contracts are.

[GMjobZK]

Something is wrong.

Why?

Fox is turning down an avg salary of 55M for age 29-31

Versus could make All-NBA and be eligible for an average salary of almost 70M for ages 29-33.

Even at age 34, he could still sign one more big deal after that supermax

This isn't unprecedented:
Aug 2021: age 36 Chris Paul 4y 120M through age 38 season
July 2022: age 32 Dame Lillard added 3y 161M through age 36 season
Jan 2024: age 32 Kahwi Leonard 3y 150M through age 35 season
July 2024: age 34 Paul George 4y 212M through age 37 season

You're not wrong... but there is a very good chance that all four teams regret the deals you mention. At some point teams may learn how foolish these contracts are.

Ask the Boston Celtics if they regretted giving Tatum and Brown their max contracts. Worked out pretty well for them…

[haste10176]

Why?

Fox is turning down an avg salary of 55M for age 29-31

Versus could make All-NBA and be eligible for an average salary of almost 70M for ages 29-33.

Even at age 34, he could still sign one more big deal after that supermax

This isn't unprecedented:
Aug 2021: age 36 Chris Paul 4y 120M through age 38 season
July 2022: age 32 Dame Lillard added 3y 161M through age 36 season
Jan 2024: age 32 Kahwi Leonard 3y 150M through age 35 season
July 2024: age 34 Paul George 4y 212M through age 37 season

You're not wrong... but there is a very good chance that all four teams regret the deals you mention. At some point teams may learn how foolish these contracts are.

Ask the Boston Celtics if they regretted giving Tatum and Brown their max contracts. Worked out pretty well for them…

Those tatum brown contracts only just kicking in now and run through their prime infact i think tatums kicks in next year

[CobraCommander]

Fox bout to pull a Brad Beal, John Wall, Dame, Westbrook and AI… you know a small guard that can’t get you a ring but saddle your team with max money problems -

Better look at what the Celtics did and let IT walk-

If they not 6’5” they better Be Stephen freaking Curry or the original IT before you pay that much for a small guard

[Chuck Everett]

Fox bout to pull a Brad Beal, John Wall, Dame, Westbrook and AI… you know a small guard that can’t get you a ring but saddle your team with max money problems -

Better look at what the Celtics did and let IT walk-

If they not 6’5” they better Be Stephen freaking Curry or the original IT before you pay that much for a small guard

Amen.

[Sactown4Life]

Good for him, skip the 3 yr/55M deal to get the 4 yr/57.5M one next year. Nothing to read into here...if he makes All-NBA, then he could get the 5 yr/69M contract. Potential to make an extra $180M total, so it's a no brainer for Fox and his team!

[Sactown4Life]

Fox bout to pull a Brad Beal, John Wall, Dame, Westbrook and AI… you know a small guard that can’t get you a ring but saddle your team with max money problems -

Better look at what the Celtics did and let IT walk-

If they not 6’5” they better Be Stephen freaking Curry or the original IT before you pay that much for a small guard

Kind of a silly take, not every big contract PG needs to be 6'5" or taller like Hali or Magic.

[Sactown4Life]

Something is wrong.

Why?

Fox is turning down an avg salary of 55M for age 29-31

Versus could make All-NBA and be eligible for an average salary of almost 70M for ages 29-33.

Even at age 34, he could still sign one more big deal after that supermax

This isn't unprecedented:
Aug 2021: age 36 Chris Paul 4y 120M through age 38 season
July 2022: age 32 Dame Lillard added 3y 161M through age 36 season
Jan 2024: age 32 Kahwi Leonard 3y 150M through age 35 season
July 2024: age 34 Paul George 4y 212M through age 37 season

Think he's just referring to the price of player contracts skyrocketing in this day and age. The reason why fans have to pay $100-150 for an average, run of the mill seat.

[CobraCommander]

Fox bout to pull a Brad Beal, John Wall, Dame, Westbrook and AI… you know a small guard that can’t get you a ring but saddle your team with max money problems -

Better look at what the Celtics did and let IT walk-

If they not 6’5” they better Be Stephen freaking Curry or the original IT before you pay that much for a small guard

Kind of a silly take, not every big contract PG needs to be 6'5" or taller like Hali or Magic.

Ok give me an example of the small guard that was the best player on a championship team -‘ Steph and IT- that’s it - if a team gives fox 300 mil they are sunk foreverrrrr

But here me clearly- fox should get as much money as he can. But the short guard as best player on team and thus warranting a super max, hasn’t worked out …. If you disageee and you think Fox or ja or Tre will lead you to a chip… then man good luck bro

This isn’t hate- Fox is a great player but your super max guys have to be able to lead you to a ring - see Tatum and brown - Steph - Kawhi - LeBron - jokic -Giannis- You can’t put fox in the conversation with the best winners of any generation - do you really see Fox being the best player on a championship team?

[ReddOktober]

Fox bout to pull a Brad Beal, John Wall, Dame, Westbrook and AI… you know a small guard that can’t get you a ring but saddle your team with max money problems -

Better look at what the Celtics did and let IT walk-

If they not 6’5” they better Be Stephen freaking Curry or the original IT before you pay that much for a small guard

Kind of a silly take, not every big contract PG needs to be 6'5" or taller like Hali or Magic.

Ok give me an example of the small guard that was the best player on a championship team -‘ Steph and IT- that’s it - if a team gives fox 300 mil they are sunk foreverrrrr

But here me clearly- fox should get as much money as he can. But the short guard as best player on team and thus warranting a super max, hasn’t worked out …. If you disageee and you think Fox or ja or Tre will lead you to a chip… then man good luck bro

This isn’t hate- Fox is a great player but your super max guys have to be able to lead you to a ring - see Tatum and brown - Steph - Kawhi - LeBron - jokic -Giannis- You can’t put fox in the conversation with the best winners of any generation - do you really see Fox being the best player on a championship team?

they drafted him. he’s been great for the organization and took them into relevancy when they were bottom feeders. he deserves his money. that’s the market. the team is very good and he’s earned it. everyone can’t win a ring. yall so consumed by rings like it’s not 30 teams in the league. everybody isn’t going to be able to win

[Rainwater]

Something is wrong.

Why?

Fox is turning down an avg salary of 55M for age 29-31

Versus could make All-NBA and be eligible for an average salary of almost 70M for ages 29-33.

Even at age 34, he could still sign one more big deal after that supermax

This isn't unprecedented:
Aug 2021: age 36 Chris Paul 4y 120M through age 38 season
July 2022: age 32 Dame Lillard added 3y 161M through age 36 season
Jan 2024: age 32 Kahwi Leonard 3y 150M through age 35 season
July 2024: age 34 Paul George 4y 212M through age 37 season

I don't think Fox is as good as any of the players listed to get that salary at 33.

[DoctorDunc]

He’s getting bad advice. The days of the automatic max are over. What if he gets hurt?

[CobraCommander]

Kind of a silly take, not every big contract PG needs to be 6'5" or taller like Hali or Magic.

Ok give me an example of the small guard that was the best player on a championship team -‘ Steph and IT- that’s it - if a team gives fox 300 mil they are sunk foreverrrrr

But here me clearly- fox should get as much money as he can. But the short guard as best player on team and thus warranting a super max, hasn’t worked out …. If you disageee and you think Fox or ja or Tre will lead you to a chip… then man good luck bro

This isn’t hate- Fox is a great player but your super max guys have to be able to lead you to a ring - see Tatum and brown - Steph - Kawhi - LeBron - jokic -Giannis- You can’t put fox in the conversation with the best winners of any generation - do you really see Fox being the best player on a championship team?

they drafted him. he’s been great for the organization and took them into relevancy when they were bottom feeders. he deserves his money. that’s the market. the team is very good and he’s earned it. everyone can’t win a ring. yall so consumed by rings like it’s not 30 teams in the league. everybody isn’t going to be able to win

So you would super max a player knowing they are never going to deliver a ring? Interesting

[puja21]

Something is wrong.

Why?

Fox is turning down an avg salary of 55M for age 29-31

Versus could make All-NBA and be eligible for an average salary of almost 70M for ages 29-33.

Even at age 34, he could still sign one more big deal after that supermax

This isn't unprecedented:
Aug 2021: age 36 Chris Paul 4y 120M through age 38 season
July 2022: age 32 Dame Lillard added 3y 161M through age 36 season
Jan 2024: age 32 Kahwi Leonard 3y 150M through age 35 season
July 2024: age 34 Paul George 4y 212M through age 37 season

Think he's just referring to the price of player contracts skyrocketing in this day and age. The reason why fans have to pay $100-150 for an average, run of the mill seat.

Perhaps, but inflation isn't unique to NBA basketball, or even other pro sports.

It's at the grocery store, lumber yard, starbucks, airlines etc...

[puja21]

Fox bout to pull a Brad Beal, John Wall, Dame, Westbrook and AI… you know a small guard that can’t get you a ring but saddle your team with max money problems -

Better look at what the Celtics did and let IT walk-

If they not 6’5” they better Be Stephen freaking Curry or the original IT before you pay that much for a small guard

Kind of a silly take, not every big contract PG needs to be 6'5" or taller like Hali or Magic.

Ok give me an example of the small guard that was the best player on a championship team -‘ Steph and IT- that’s it - if a team gives fox 300 mil they are sunk foreverrrrr

But here me clearly- fox should get as much money as he can. But the short guard as best player on team and thus warranting a super max, hasn’t worked out …. If you disagree and you think Fox or ja or Tre will lead you to a chip… then man good luck bro

This isn’t hate- Fox is a great player but your super max guys have to be able to lead you to a ring - see Tatum and brown - Steph - Kawhi - LeBron - jokic -Giannis- You can’t put fox in the conversation with the best winners of any generation - do you really see Fox being the best player on a championship team?

People used to say you couldn't win without dominant bigs until Jordan.

Then you couldn't win by relying on the 3 (remember Chuck) until Golden State.

Why does a bonafide best player need to "deliver" the championship?

Who was the best player on the 2004 Pistons?
Maybe Billups maybe not, but there's no automatic answer there.

What about on the 2014 Spurs?
Kawhi won FMVP, yes, but he scored single digit points in that playoff as often as he scored 20.

Same in Boston. Brown won FMVP but Tatum is very likely the "best" player... also a near-zero chance Boston's winning without 3 of the other 4 core pieces.

There's lots of ways to do it. Some not even done yet, but there's only 1 title a year.

Plenty of HOF max-level guys >6'5 have failed to deliver titles too. Everyone knows the list; Ewing, Mailman, Chuck, Baylor, TMac, English, Nique, Embiid and on and on

Just naming immature bad team guys like Morant or Tre Young doesn't impugn all players under 6'5.

Maybe Fox can't be the 2nd best player on a title team. Maybe Haliburton can't. Maybe Booker can't. But I know height is a small factor in that conversation between these 3 guys