Kings Seeking Win-Now Players, Draft Capital In De'Aaron Fox Trade Talks

[RealGM Wiretap]

The Sacramento Kings are evaluating trade offers for De'Aaron Fox ahead of the Feb. 6th trade deadline. Fox can become a free agent in 2026, which gives the franchise either this trade deadline or the 2025 offseason

"In a lot of ways, this is the Kings getting ahead of what's coming in the offseason," said Shams Charania on First Take. "He's going to be a free agent in 2026, so if he were to be traded at the trade deadline, this gives them more time on his contract to potentially get more value instead of waiting for the summer when every team in the league knows they have to move De'Aaron Fox.

"The Kings, so far in conversations with all those teams, they've said they want win-now players. They want draft capital as well. This is a massive domino. De'Aaron Fox is in the prime of his career. He's a max contract, no-brainer."

Fox is believed to have a specific trade destination in mind, but that has not been confirmed yet on the record. There has been rampant speculation that the San Antonio Spurs are that team, which Charania said sources have told him.

"Him and his representation, Kluch Sports CEO Rich Paul, they have a destination already in mind," said Charania. "I've asked Rich Paul to confirm what I've heard. He's been unwilling to me to confirm, but league sources tell me the San Antonio Spurs are De'Aaron Fox's preferred destination. The Kings will discuss deals with the Spurs. The Spurs have a level of interest. There's multiple other teams with interest in De'Aaron Fox as well. They're going to see if they can find a deal between now and that Feb. 6th NBA trade deadline and if they can recoup the utmost value for De'Aaron Fox. If he's a rental for any other team, there is question on what price you're willing to pay."

Via Shams Charania/ESPN

[Nazrmohamed]

They want both? I mean, the thought of getting player who don't win is sorta ridiculous but I would assume a player of his stature, at the point you wanna move on its cuz you wanna tear it down. Not be a play-in team.

[donaldtrump_00]

Sounds like he prefers wemby over anyone on the kings roster. Idk to much about fox off the court. But he should stay in Sacramento. He has a winning team. This version of the kings looks better than any version since 2002. 2 legit Allstars. Him and sabonis. Plus demar is an aging vet how can close games and also not to far removed from being a allstar himself. Malik Monk is a damn good player in his own right. Great shooter in keegan Murray. Pretty decent bench help. Devin Carter, Keon Ellis, Kevin hurter. Trey Lyles, Alex Len, Jae crowder.

Is it demar derozan? Does he pass the ball enough or demands a certain level of play? I'm wondering because zach lavine wanted out when he got in Chicago. Now he wants to stay. I haven't heard zach complain once since demar left.is it because demars lack of defense or something hidden?I'm just lost on why fox wants out so bad all of a sudden. He was ok with them last season. And he chooses the spurs?is it coaching he wants? Without even giving them a year to see how they perform in a playoffs series he's given up? There's something weird in this picture.

[Pickled Prunes]

They want both? I mean, the thought of getting player who don't win is sorta ridiculous but I would assume a player of his stature, at the point you wanna move on its cuz you wanna tear it down. Not be a play-in team.

They have Sabonis, Monk, Murray and DeRozan still on the roster. No need to break it down because one borderline all-star doesn't think he's good enough to succeed with that group.

Fox to SAS for CP3, Barnes, two 1stst and a swap. Win now, win later... and don't have to overpay Fox. Done!

[Sactown4Life]

Fox, Len for Vassell, Sochan & Collins + a 1st, possibly two depending if they're unprotected or not.

[HotelVitale]

Fox, Len for Vassell, Sochan & Collins + a 1st, possibly two depending if they're unprotected or not.

Kinda doubt you’re gonna get that haul but worth trying for.

[LAKESHOW]

Spurs gotta alotta Bums and Wemby. Nobody wants that junk

[Nazrmohamed]

They want both? I mean, the thought of getting player who don't win is sorta ridiculous but I would assume a player of his stature, at the point you wanna move on its cuz you wanna tear it down. Not be a play-in team.

They have Sabonis, Monk, Murray and DeRozan still on the roster. No need to break it down because one borderline all-star doesn't think he's good enough to succeed with that group.

Fox to SAS for CP3, Barnes, two 1stst and a swap. Win now, win later... and don't have to overpay Fox. Done!

Hmm. Not bad. And I do think they'd win with those guys. Paul always gives a team a spike, at least in it's first year IF they wanna win. But there's still a very clear ceiling and I think they should be after a way bigger pick hauls considering Derozens old, Murray is a very mid-talented player who's ceiling is pretty much reached btw. Sabonis is a really good player but I just don't see his game as a win on the big stage style. He's more likely to win big on his way out of his prime when he's playing with better players. Sortve like a Cleveland Kevin Love type of situation.

I just don't think the Kings should string this out. Or they should go the opposite route. Trade anything other than Sabonis or Fox and maybe get a player better than both if them. I dont necessarily think they have to go backwards but don't fight to keep a team relevant that was never a contender to begin with.

[Pickled Prunes]

They want both? I mean, the thought of getting player who don't win is sorta ridiculous but I would assume a player of his stature, at the point you wanna move on its cuz you wanna tear it down. Not be a play-in team.

They have Sabonis, Monk, Murray and DeRozan still on the roster. No need to break it down because one borderline all-star doesn't think he's good enough to succeed with that group.

Fox to SAS for CP3, Barnes, two 1stst and a swap. Win now, win later... and don't have to overpay Fox. Done!

Hmm. Not bad. And I do think they'd win with those guys. Paul always gives a team a spike, at least in it's first year IF they wanna win. But there's still a very clear ceiling and I think they should be after a way bigger pick hauls considering Derozens old, Murray is a very mid-talented player who's ceiling is pretty much reached btw. Sabonis is a really good player but I just don't see his game as a win on the big stage style. He's more likely to win big on his way out of his prime when he's playing with better players. Sortve like a Cleveland Kevin Love type of situation.

I just don't think the Kings should string this out. Or they should go the opposite route. Trade anything other than Sabonis or Fox and maybe get a player better than both if them. I dont necessarily think they have to go backwards but don't fight to keep a team relevant that was never a contender to begin with.

I don't think Fox is worth more than two 1sts and a swap. I mean, you are paying for the opportunity to overpay him. That's not ideal.

In general, I think max salaries have kind of broken team building. The idea of a "big-3" surrounded by table scraps has proven that it won't work consistently. You need a quality rotation of about 8-9 players. You don't need three players taking 105% of the cap. The roster in SAC would look completely different if Huerter hadn't turned into a pumpkin. It would also look different if Fox or DeRozan had a 3pt shot.

I like Kevin Love. Hell, I love Love. I'll go to bat for him all day... but Love was 27 when he won a ring with CLE. Sabonis is 28, and a far better player than Love ever was. He's currently 1st in REB, 2nd in 3pt%, 8th in FG%, 12th in TS%, 15th in APG... I could go on.

It's funny, because I think a lot of people still don't understand how good Jokic is. I mean they get it, but not really. It's like knowing the universe is vast, but humans not having any real comprehension of how vast. Sabonis isn't THAT good, but he is better than most people understand. You can build around that skill set, but you have to identify it and understand it first. SAC see's it but clearly has no idea what to do with it. Maybe they are just a coach and a Fox trade away.

[Sactown4Life]

They have Sabonis, Monk, Murray and DeRozan still on the roster. No need to break it down because one borderline all-star doesn't think he's good enough to succeed with that group.

Fox to SAS for CP3, Barnes, two 1stst and a swap. Win now, win later... and don't have to overpay Fox. Done!

Hmm. Not bad. And I do think they'd win with those guys. Paul always gives a team a spike, at least in it's first year IF they wanna win. But there's still a very clear ceiling and I think they should be after a way bigger pick hauls considering Derozens old, Murray is a very mid-talented player who's ceiling is pretty much reached btw. Sabonis is a really good player but I just don't see his game as a win on the big stage style. He's more likely to win big on his way out of his prime when he's playing with better players. Sortve like a Cleveland Kevin Love type of situation.

I just don't think the Kings should string this out. Or they should go the opposite route. Trade anything other than Sabonis or Fox and maybe get a player better than both if them. I dont necessarily think they have to go backwards but don't fight to keep a team relevant that was never a contender to begin with.

I don't think Fox is worth more than two 1sts and a swap. I mean, you are paying for the opportunity to overpay him. That's not ideal.

In general, I think max salaries have kind of broken team building. The idea of a "big-3" surrounded by table scraps has proven that it won't work consistently. You need a quality rotation of about 8-9 players. You don't need three players taking 105% of the cap. The roster in SAC would look completely different if Huerter hadn't turned into a pumpkin. It would also look different if Fox or DeRozan had a 3pt shot.

I like Kevin Love. Hell, I love Love. I'll go to bat for him all day... but Love was 27 when he won a ring with CLE. Sabonis is 28, and a far better player than Love ever was. He's currently 1st in REB, 2nd in 3pt%, 8th in FG%, 12th in TS%, 15th in APG... I could go on.

It's funny, because I think a lot of people still don't understand how good Jokic is. I mean they get it, but not really. It's like knowing the universe is vast, but humans not having any real comprehension of how vast. Sabonis isn't THAT good, but he is better than most people understand. You can build around that skill set, but you have to identify it and understand it first. SAC see's it but clearly has no idea what to do with it. Maybe they are just a coach and a Fox trade away.

Really good take, agree with everything you said. Was never a fan of 3 max contract dudes, and hardly nothing else. I always was a fan of depth & balance, in any team sport really..not just bball. The team just needs more 3 and D guys around Domas, not 30+ aged guys shooting middies (Demar & Zach) although LaVine is good at 3s but lacks I believe in lots of other areas, defense, rebounding, playmaking etc. Boston built most of their team that shoots 3s and plays their ass off on defense.

[Pickled Prunes]

Hmm. Not bad. And I do think they'd win with those guys. Paul always gives a team a spike, at least in it's first year IF they wanna win. But there's still a very clear ceiling and I think they should be after a way bigger pick hauls considering Derozens old, Murray is a very mid-talented player who's ceiling is pretty much reached btw. Sabonis is a really good player but I just don't see his game as a win on the big stage style. He's more likely to win big on his way out of his prime when he's playing with better players. Sortve like a Cleveland Kevin Love type of situation.

I just don't think the Kings should string this out. Or they should go the opposite route. Trade anything other than Sabonis or Fox and maybe get a player better than both if them. I dont necessarily think they have to go backwards but don't fight to keep a team relevant that was never a contender to begin with.

I don't think Fox is worth more than two 1sts and a swap. I mean, you are paying for the opportunity to overpay him. That's not ideal.

In general, I think max salaries have kind of broken team building. The idea of a "big-3" surrounded by table scraps has proven that it won't work consistently. You need a quality rotation of about 8-9 players. You don't need three players taking 105% of the cap. The roster in SAC would look completely different if Huerter hadn't turned into a pumpkin. It would also look different if Fox or DeRozan had a 3pt shot.

I like Kevin Love. Hell, I love Love. I'll go to bat for him all day... but Love was 27 when he won a ring with CLE. Sabonis is 28, and a far better player than Love ever was. He's currently 1st in REB, 2nd in 3pt%, 8th in FG%, 12th in TS%, 15th in APG... I could go on.

It's funny, because I think a lot of people still don't understand how good Jokic is. I mean they get it, but not really. It's like knowing the universe is vast, but humans not having any real comprehension of how vast. Sabonis isn't THAT good, but he is better than most people understand. You can build around that skill set, but you have to identify it and understand it first. SAC see's it but clearly has no idea what to do with it. Maybe they are just a coach and a Fox trade away.

Really good take, agree with everything you said. Was never a fan of 3 max contract dudes, and hardly nothing else. I always was a fan of depth & balance, in any team sport really..not just bball. The team just needs more 3 and D guys around Domas, not 30+ aged guys shooting middies (Demar & Zach) although LaVine is good at 3s but lacks I believe in lots of other areas, defense, rebounding, playmaking etc. Boston built most of their team that shoots 3s and plays their ass off on defense.

I actually love the contract that DeRozan is on, making about half of what LaVine is making. A lot of teams would be happy to have his 22/4/4 at 16% of the cap... and he rarely misses a game. The problems in SAC are not on him. SAC finished 9th last season and this season has felt pretty similar. (I might be one of the few people that believe Mike Brown was a major part of their issues.)

I honestly think the LaVine pickup is short term. (I am not a fan or believer!) Either Zach or DeMar will be on the move this summer, possibly both. SAC doesn't need to "win" a LaVine trade the way CHI did. If they get anything positive from a LaVine trade it will just be added to their haul for Fox.

I am with you about BOS. They are deep! I think it is possible that each and every player in BOS is a little overrated (other than Horford) but when you put them all together on the same team it is nasty. But if you traded Brown for a guy like LaMelo or Scoot, I don't think those teams improve enough to make them relevant. BOS has like four #2's and three #3's. We'll get to see soon because BOS will need to make some decisions here in the short term.

[Sactown4Life]

You're right, gotta love that production at 16% of the cap and super durable player. Zach is almost the same player but makes double, haha. I like Zach's game tbh, but don't like his contract, injuries issues and he's mainly a scorer. Have enough of that already, and the team needs help in other areas.

I'm with you on the topic of Brown, and I think we're in the small minority but could be right though. Thought we was doing weird stuff starting last season...things like his messed up, constant changing rotations, failure to play Keon etc. Challenging things he shouldn't and vice versa. With the recent stories of Fox/Domas not being super friendly, and also a few articles I read after MB's firing about him & Domas apparently butting heads more than once, I wonder if there was some type of split...Domas & co against Fox/Brown. Maybe that's why Vivek & Monte never stepped up with a conference to explain the firing and/or defend Fox. Maybe since the summer they had an inclination to move on from Fox & Brown eventually. So they decided to stick with Domas and move on from De'Aaron. Probably the wisest move anyway, as we both said that $57M deal Fox gets will be a team killer, and he's not worth it frankly.

I hear you about the Celts, they'll have some difficult choices coming down the pipe soon my friend.