Rich Paul Meets With Kings As De'Aaron Fox's Future Comes Into Question

[RealGM Wiretap]

De'Aaron Fox's agent, Rich Paul, met with general manager Monte McNair and assistant general manager Wes Wilcox of the Sacramento Kings before Thursday's game against the Los Angeles Lakers, reports The Athletic. The discussion was focused on "an existential question that needs to be answered if this partnership that began eight seasons ago between Fox and the Kings is going to continue long term."

Fox declined the Kings' three-year, $165 million extension offer before the start of the current season. While Fox could sign for up to a five-year, $345 million supermax if he makes an All-NBA team, he has made it clear that annual contention is his goal.

League sources say Fox has not asked for a trade, but are determining what comes next. Fox could become a free agent in 2026 and there could be a determination from the Kings on what direction to go.

Rival executives are monitoring the Fox situation closely with the San Antonio Spurs lingering as a team to monitor. Fox is a native of Houston and the Spurs have a need for a point guard. 

Via Sam Amick, Anthony Slater/The Athletic

[Pickled Prunes]

I like Fox.... but giving him 5yr/$345m would be a tremendous mistake. He will never be the best player on a championship team.

As far as Fox making "annual contention" a priority... that begins with him understanding that the statements above are true.

[deeps6x]

Not if he's a Spur. But then he won't have to be the best player. Just a solid #2 to Wemby.

He's putting up better stats then Anthony Edwards right now. Nobody is saying Edwards isn't worth a super max contract.

[Rek]

I like Fox.... but giving him 5yr/$345m would be a tremendous mistake. He will never be the best player on a championship team.

As far as Fox making "annual contention" a priority... that begins with him understanding that the statements above are true.

Yep spot on

[Sactown4Life]

I like Fox.... but giving him 5yr/$345m would be a tremendous mistake. He will never be the best player on a championship team.

As far as Fox making "annual contention" a priority... that begins with him understanding that the statements above are true.

Yeah I agree, that's a good point. Didn't like Fox's effort the other night, kinda seems like he's giving up already or wants to force his way out. Allowed a bunch of blow by's when he guarded Reaves?! Jogging down the court when Malik/Keon were sprinting down the court on fast break, then picking up bad fouls left and right. You're comment the other day was spot on, he wants to call the organization out and act like a superstar but won't lead on and off the court adequately.

[the_process]

This screams Houston regardless of what they have said.

Jabari, VanVleet, Sheppard, and a first? Seems like that should be enough to get it done.

[Pickled Prunes]

This screams Houston regardless of what they have said.

Jabari, VanVleet, Sheppard, and a first? Seems like that should be enough to get it done.

I'm not sure SAC should want any of those players. If that's the package it will cost more like four 1sts.

[nocomingnogoing]

Some nights he is the best player on the court - in the warriors series he was the best player in a couple games. His huge mistake was shunning the talent when it’s been made available to sac ( halliburton / doncic ) Kings should sell high - that deal with houston is good. If the first is 2027 nets or suns then sac should do it, i think houston should too.

I like Fox.... but giving him 5yr/$345m would be a tremendous mistake. He will never be the best player on a championship team.

As far as Fox making "annual contention" a priority... that begins with him understanding that the statements above are true.

Yeah I agree, that's a good point. Didn't like Fox's effort the other night, kinda seems like he's giving up already or wants to force his way out. Allowed a bunch of blow by's when he guarded Reaves?! Jogging down the court when Malik/Keon were sprinting down the court on fast break, then picking up bad fouls left and right. You're comment the other day was spot on, he wants to call the organization out and act like a superstar but won't lead on and off the court adequately.

[beefymajesto]

I'm personally very unsure on Sabonis. I don't watch a lot of Sacramento but I remember when they played my team not really noticing the guy and then his stat lie was stacked. Maybe that's good thing, maybe it's him not affecting the game in the crucial moments. Makes me think it could be this world of stats above all else that gets him his cred, would have to ask a sac fan though.

[objectivefan]

While Fox could sign for up to a five-year, $345 million supermax if he makes an All-NBA team, he has made it clear that annual contention is his goal.

- The NBA has a problem, every B and B+ player expects a max contract. There is no way any team with title aspirations should be maxing out Fox

[Reeko]

I'm personally very unsure on Sabonis. I don't watch a lot of Sacramento but I remember when they played my team not really noticing the guy and then his stat lie was stacked. Maybe that's good thing, maybe it's him not affecting the game in the crucial moments. Makes me think it could be this world of stats above all else that gets him his cred, would have to ask a sac fan though.

100% agree about Sabonis. You’ll notice him here or there but when the game ends you see he put up like 26/12/9 and you’re left asking yourself “how?”.

[Big_Aristotle]

I like Fox.... but giving him 5yr/$345m would be a tremendous mistake. He will never be the best player on a championship team.

As far as Fox making "annual contention" a priority... that begins with him understanding that the statements above are true.

You are 100% right. But watch multiple GM's standing in line to offer him such a deal.

[Pickled Prunes]

I'm personally very unsure on Sabonis. I don't watch a lot of Sacramento but I remember when they played my team not really noticing the guy and then his stat lie was stacked. Maybe that's good thing, maybe it's him not affecting the game in the crucial moments. Makes me think it could be this world of stats above all else that gets him his cred, would have to ask a sac fan though.

100% agree about Sabonis. You’ll notice him here or there but when the game ends you see he put up like 26/12/9 and you’re left asking yourself “how?”.

Sabonis is the best player in SAC, for all the reasons mentioned above. It's not even close. He does everything quietly and efficiently. He leads the team in +/- at +3.7. Demar is 4th at +2.3 and Fox is 7th at +1.1. Sabonis is by far their most efficient scorer but he is less involved in crunch time, averaging just 2.5 FGA and 0.9 AST in 4th quarters. He is also shooting 57% from 3pt in 4th quarters. It is up to Fox and the coaching staff to make sure that Sabonis has the opportunity to be impactful when the game is on the line.

[Pickled Prunes]

Some nights he is the best player on the court - in the warriors series he was the best player in a couple games. His huge mistake was shunning the talent when it’s been made available to sac ( halliburton / doncic ) Kings should sell high - that deal with houston is good. If the first is 2027 nets or suns then sac should do it, i think houston should too.

I like Fox.... but giving him 5yr/$345m would be a tremendous mistake. He will never be the best player on a championship team.

As far as Fox making "annual contention" a priority... that begins with him understanding that the statements above are true.

Yeah I agree, that's a good point. Didn't like Fox's effort the other night, kinda seems like he's giving up already or wants to force his way out. Allowed a bunch of blow by's when he guarded Reaves?! Jogging down the court when Malik/Keon were sprinting down the court on fast break, then picking up bad fouls left and right. You're comment the other day was spot on, he wants to call the organization out and act like a superstar but won't lead on and off the court adequately.

I am not sure how some people believe Fox is worth a max... and others think he's worth a single 1st and matching salary.

It's got to be somewhere in the middle, right?

[Pickled Prunes]

I like Fox.... but giving him 5yr/$345m would be a tremendous mistake. He will never be the best player on a championship team.

As far as Fox making "annual contention" a priority... that begins with him understanding that the statements above are true.

You are 100% right. But watch multiple GM's standing in line to offer him such a deal.

That won't happen for two reasons:

1a) If Fox makes an all-NBA team, Sac can offer him 35% of the cap with 8% raises for 5 years. This article projects that to be 5yr/$345m.
1b) If Fox leaves, a rival team can only offer him 30% of the cap with 5% raises for 4 years. That will be somewhere closer to 4yr/$210m.

2) Even if they were able to offer it, no GM (not even in SAC) believe Fox is worth 5yr/$345m. SAC might give it to him because of fan pressure and how hard it has been to get stars to SAC, but they will know deep down that it won't work out before pen touches paper.

[Rek]

If I'm the Sacto FO, I'm trying to trade Fox to Orlando for Suggs + Wagner or Silva - escaping that monster price tag for Fox.

Then they can ride out DeRozan and Monk while they search for a stud wing to be their lead scorer. Try to positon themselves to land Ant Edwards when he forces his way out of Minnie - which seems inevitable.

[the_process]

This screams Houston regardless of what they have said.

Jabari, VanVleet, Sheppard, and a first? Seems like that should be enough to get it done.

I'm not sure SAC should want any of those players. If that's the package it will cost more like four 1sts.

Disagree. It all depends on what Fox wants to do, though. I'm sure SAC would rather just keep him and pay him.

[Big_Aristotle]

I like Fox.... but giving him 5yr/$345m would be a tremendous mistake. He will never be the best player on a championship team.

As far as Fox making "annual contention" a priority... that begins with him understanding that the statements above are true.

You are 100% right. But watch multiple GM's standing in line to offer him such a deal.

That won't happen for two reasons:

1a) If Fox makes an all-NBA team, Sac can offer him 35% of the cap with 8% raises for 5 years. This article projects that to be 5yr/$345m.
1b) If Fox leaves, a rival team can only offer him 30% of the cap with 5% raises for 4 years. That will be somewhere closer to 4yr/$210m.

2) Even if they were able to offer it, no GM (not even in SAC) believe Fox is worth 5yr/$345m. SAC might give it to him because of fan pressure and how hard it has been to get stars to SAC, but they will know deep down that it won't work out before pen touches paper.

They should not offer that deal. As a GM, your job is to do the right thing for the team and not follow fan pressure. I know that they may be tempted to do it because of job security, but as a team you're not going anywhere with such a contract and therefore you should lose your job a bit later anyway.

I don't think I would offer Fox 4yr/$210m either. I would try to ask him about his priorities: dollars or winning? Because both won't happen together.

[Pickled Prunes]

You are 100% right. But watch multiple GM's standing in line to offer him such a deal.

That won't happen for two reasons:

1a) If Fox makes an all-NBA team, Sac can offer him 35% of the cap with 8% raises for 5 years. This article projects that to be 5yr/$345m.
1b) If Fox leaves, a rival team can only offer him 30% of the cap with 5% raises for 4 years. That will be somewhere closer to 4yr/$210m.

2) Even if they were able to offer it, no GM (not even in SAC) believe Fox is worth 5yr/$345m. SAC might give it to him because of fan pressure and how hard it has been to get stars to SAC, but they will know deep down that it won't work out before pen touches paper.

They should not offer that deal. As a GM, your job is to do the right thing for the team and not follow fan pressure. I know that they may be tempted to do it because of job security, but as a team you're not going anywhere with such a contract and therefore you should lose your job a bit later anyway.

I don't think I would offer Fox 4yr/$210m either. I would try to ask him about his priorities: dollars or winning? Because both won't happen together.

100%

[Sactown4Life]

I'm personally very unsure on Sabonis. I don't watch a lot of Sacramento but I remember when they played my team not really noticing the guy and then his stat lie was stacked. Maybe that's good thing, maybe it's him not affecting the game in the crucial moments. Makes me think it could be this world of stats above all else that gets him his cred, would have to ask a sac fan though.

100% agree about Sabonis. You’ll notice him here or there but when the game ends you see he put up like 26/12/9 and you’re left asking yourself “how?”.

You guys gotta watch more Kings games, haha. He gets like 1/3 of their total boards, and half the offense runs through him. Stop checking out the hot girls sitting courtside, lmao.