De’aaron Fox’s exchanges: four teams that can acquire it

De'aaron Fox's exchanges: four teams that can acquire it

What should the Kings do (and how easy it will be) after the player franchise of’aaron Fox indicated that it is open to an exchange?


Two and a half years ago, De’aaron fox hired a Rich Paul already Klutch Sports to represent him. At that time, Fox made it clear that the decision to do so was not because he wanted to leave sacrament, and that was true. But one of the reasons why Paul is hired is because he is, as “El Padrino”, an advisor in war. If you have to assume the unpleasant task of retiring in the middle of the contract, Paul has shown that he can help to happen. That moment, for Fox, has apparently arrived.

This is not being framed as a commercial demand, but from Fox’s actions last summer, when he rejected a contract extension offer, the Kings They have been effectively on the clock. Subsequently, this season has not gone as planned either. The incorporation of Demar Droan As a free agent he has generated good statistics, but less victories (the Kings are three games worse than at this point last year) and Fox’s role has decreased.

There was also the coach’s careless dismissal Mike Browna decision that was not well received by Fox. The star base and Brown had developed a productive working relationship, the fountains said, and Fox had to undertake a media campaign to distance himself from the dismissal because Brown had criticized him for a leg of leg defensive during your last night at work. The Kings management never convened a press conference to explain the decision, leaving Fox to handle the consequences.

The Kings have taken a turn to their season since then, with a record of 11-4 under the interim coach Doug Christie. But despite that, they are still tenth at the West Conference, and if the season ended today, the Kings would need to win two play-in games as visitors just to reach the playoffs. Fox’s feelings about long -term commitment have not changed. And the Kings, judging by the panorama on this deadline for exchanges, have decided to be a possible pioneer. – Brian Windhorst


Four teams that could work for Fox. Would they work for the Kings?

Since San Antonio is currently in the 12th place in the West, adding to Fox would have more to do with the preparation for 2025-26 and beyond a playoff race this spring. But Fox’s favorite fate, according to Shams Charania de AM850, would represent an opportunity to team up Victor Wembanyama During his rise to perhaps become the best player in the league.

We have already seen this season to add to a Pick-And-Roll teacher as Chris Paul I could do to improve Wembanyama’s offensive. Fox cannot match that level of skill, but it is a more scorer threat than Paul and would be a long-term pick-raw fellow.

In return, San Antonio could build a package around the forward Keldon Johnson and Paul or Tre Jones that would allow the most salary flexibility. The problem is that neither Paul nor Jones would be a long -term replacement in the base position if Sacramento wants to compete. The main value for the Kings would surely come through draft selections. San Antonio has unprotected selections of the Atlanta Hawks Both this year and 2027, a Top-10 protected selection of the Chicago Bulls that falls to top-8 protection in each of the next two drafts and a first round of 2031 of the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Spurs could also return to Sacramento the exchange of selections of 2031 that they achieved as part of the exchange that led Demarzan to the Kings last summer.


If Sacramento is going to change Fox to an unwanted destination, Rockets are the most logical partner. The Kings would acquire Fred Vanvleet as a replacement base (a modest reduction with respect to Fox) along with some of Houston’s promising young talents and a reserve of draft selections.

Being realistic, levels of level A of the Rockets would probably be out of the limits given the uncertainty about getting Fox signing an extension in Houston. That could still leave CAM Whitmore, the first round of 2023, which has stood out in limited minutes and would have more opportunities with the Kings.

Due to the Stepien rule (which requires that the equipment has at least a future selected in the first round in every two drafts), the rockets currently cannot exchange the valuable exchange rights they have with the first round of PHOOENIX Round of 2025. However, Houston has the selection of the Suns in 2027 and the two best selections between those of the Rockets, the Dallas Mavericks and the Phoenix in 2029. All those first round selections have a considerable potential.

Houston, who is already second in the west, would consolidate his contender credentials by adding Fox. In his only appearance in the playoffs, Fox averaged 27.4 points per game while Sacramento took the defense champions Golden State Warriors to seven games in a series of first round of 2023.


Fox shares an agent (Rich Paul) with the stars of the Lakers Anthony Davis and Lebron Jameswhich means that they would know better than anyone if Fox would be willing to sign an extension to play with them in Los Angeles.

Although the Lakers have no shortage of needs, a creator of first level shots to help James is at the top of the list. The 16.4 shots per game of Fox occupy fourth place in the NBA, according to the follow -up of Second Spectrum in NBA Advanced Stats. No laker averages more than 10.6 of Austin Reaveswhich occupies the 46th position. Adding that dimension would give the Lakers a realistic opportunity of a position among the first four in the west and the type of playoff race they had when they reached the late 2023 west conference.

At 27, Fox is younger than the stars generally linked to the Lakers and would be an anchor for an era after James with Davis. The question is whether the Lakers could make an offer attractive enough to Sacramento, even if they include unprotected first round selections both in 2029 and 2031.

Unlike the other teams involved, the Lakers cannot offer Sacramento a replacement for Fox in the base position. And unless the Lakers are willing to negotiate Reaves, the Kings would have to recover the forward Jarred Vanderbilt or the Gabe Vincent escort.


Fox wants a exchange. Jimmy Butler He wants a exchange. Problem solved?

Sacramento made a lot of meaning as Butler’s destination, but playing with Fox, not replacing it in the squad. And put Fox in the Heat defense zone with Tyler Herro It would inevitably lead to an overlap. Even so, this is Miami, so a exchange for a star that could be convinced to stay in South Beach and form an All-Star duo with his former teammate of Kentucky, Bam Adebayo, is always a realistic possibility .

In a fantasy world, the Kings and the Heat could exchange Herro (another former Wildcat) and Butler for a package built around Derozan, Fox and Kevin Huerter, which almost equals in salary terms. Undoubtedly, Miami would improve by having more reliable and more motivated perimeter players, while Sacrament The end of 2023, but Herro lost most of those playoffs due to injuries).

In practice, finding the correct value in a Miami-Sacrament exchange would surely be difficult. The Heat probably is expected to expect Fox not to sign an extension and go to free agency in 2026, when they can create maximum level salary space. – Kevin Pelton


Obstacles that could derail an exchange of fox

The Kings have aggressively built their roster around Fox and his partner All-Star Sabonis Domantasbut now they will have the task of remodeling their roster.

His previous seven exchanges, including the incorporation of Demarzan last summer, have cost Sacramento a first round selection (2023), the right to exchange first round selections (2031) and six second round selections. The Kings owe the Atlanta Hawks a first-round protected round selection among the first 1225 of the 2022 exchange to acquire Kevin Huerter, and the protection falls to the Top-10 if it is not broadcast this year. (For now, it could be transmitted, because the Kings are in 13th place before the draft lottery).

The Kings are $ 3.2 million below the luxury tax and $ 7 million below the first apron, and cannot exceed the first apron, due to the signature and exchange agreement that brought Droan, which means that they cannot recover much more than The current Fox salary of $ 34.8 million in an agreement.

And while there should be a list of equipment willing to acquire Fox, who has two years left and more than $ 70 million in his contract, there are multiple risks that the central offices of the opponents should weigh.

First, Fox has already rejected an extension of three years and $ 165 million with Sacramento last season, and can be a free agent in 2026. The teams that could be interested will want to know if Fox is willing to compromise in the long term this summer. It would be eligible to sign an extension of four years and $ 229 million six months after it is exchanged.

However, being transferred would eliminate any possibility of obtaining a supermax extension, even if Fox were appointed for a team All-nba This season. (To be eligible for Supermax, players must be with their original team or have been transferred while they were still in their rookie contract).

Unless the owner of the Vivek Ranadivé team gets involved, the Kings management has influence in the transfer negotiations for multiple reasons.

As we mentioned earlier, there is no sense of urgency because Fox will not be a free agent. Sacramento can wait until after the playoffs, evaluate the draft and then adopt a more aggressive approach to aim at the teams that do not yield enough in the postseason. More importantly, Kings can use Fox’s eligibility to renegotiate this summer in their favor.

For example, it is projected that the Spurs, Fox’s favorite fate, will have space in the salary stop this low season. If Fox were transferred to San Antonio (or any other team with a significant salary space), it would be allowed to renegotiate its salary of $ 37.1 million to $ 46.4 million six months after the agreement, in addition to being eligible to sign an extension of four years for $ 229 million that would begin in 2026-27. If Fox were transferred in the low season, as soon as he could renegotiate and then extend his contract with a team like San Antonio would be in January. – Bobby Marks