De'Aron Fox Considered More Likely To Become Available In Summer Than By Trade Deadline

[RealGM Wiretap]

De'Aron Fox has not asked for a trade from the Sacramento Kings, sources tell Sam Amick of The Athletic. But several rival teams are preparing for that possibility with the San Antonio Spurs, Miami Heat and Los Angeles Lakers at the top of the list of teams frequently discussed for Fox if he becomes available. 

Among teams interested in Fox, there is a "strong belief that Fox is more likely to be available this summer rather than before the Feb. 6 trade deadline."

The Spurs have been the team where the "noise is the loudest" on pursuing Fox. Additionally, the Orlando Magic and Houston Rockets could have interest in a trade for Fox.

Fox, who is represented by Rich Paul and cannot become a free agent until 2026, is averaging 26.8 points, 5.0 rebounds and 6.2 assists in 37.2 minutes over 34 games this season. Fox was an All-Star and All-NBA Third Team selection in 2023.

Via Sam Amick/The Athletic

[Vegeta10176]

Big time mistake if you commit to a gaurd that is a poor 3pt shooter with a high assist to turnover ratio.. If you want to win titles this isn't your guy.. DFox is fine but he demands high usuage and max dollars and he isn't going to bring you a championship.. Modern basketball is too good to have a max player who is a gaurd and a poor 3pt shooter.

[WuriderX]

You can't win with guys like this. I am no GM or coach but I got eyes. They want to get paid like the man but guys like Fox don't make their teammates better.

[puja21]

You can win with guys like this. I am no GM or coach but I got eyes. They want to get paid like the man but guys like Fox don't make their teammates better.

I would argue that plenty of guys have won or gone to the Finals/Conf finals, while both getting paid and *not* making their teammates better

e.g.
Paul Pierce, Jayson Tatum, Durant, Kyrie Irving -- and if we're talking conf finals, Lillard's 2019 fits the bill too.

None of those guys were elite (Magic/Lebron/CP3/Joker/Steph) setup guys, defenders, or locker room guys -- most of them aren't even well liked. Only KD has HOF level gravity as a 3-level scorer.

But Fox is missing something they all have; they can ALL shoot efficiently from way outside

And for the guys that won titles, none of them were the "sole" alpha star either; Pierce had KG/Allen. Tatum had Brown/Holiday/White. KD had Russ/Harden and Steph/Klay/Dray. Kyrie had Lebron... and Lillard didn't win (although CJM was the best player in the final 2 series of 2019, so he had an "equal" teammate).


Fox is too small to be guard 2-3-4 (let alone 5) like the forwards on that list.

But if you get him with Spo or *maybe* San Antonio (if Pop can coach again) -- a system that gets the most out of his defensive potential should do better than his 500 games in Sac. He's got a solid 3, maybe 4 seasons, of peak physical performance left.

[Toine85]

I think Fox would be a great addition to the Rockets. It’s all about surrounding yourself with the right personnel. The Rockets are currently 3rd in the West with Fred VanVleet scoring 15 ppg shooting 38%! And Fox would be an upgrade from that. Putting Fox on a defensive team like the Rockets reminds me of having Iverson on the Sixers about 25 years ago.

The Rockets cap sheet is pretty clean with Sengun’s raise offset by the expiring contracts of Adams, Tate, and Jeff Green.

If I were the Rockets, I would offer Jalen Green and Reed Sheppard in the offseason for Fox, then decline VanVleet’s team option and sign a bigger guard like Brandon Ingram or Jimmy Butler.