The Sacramento Kings are reportedly open to trading their All-Star point guard De’Aaron Fox. The Kings already started fielding calls from interested teams and a deal might come together before the NBA trade deadline in early February.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, who broke the news, Fox is expected to have a number of suitors but has a preferred destination in mind. However, his camp is currently unwilling to share details about the player’s intention.
It might come as a surprise that the Kings are willing to trade away their franchise cornerstone, but the move actually makes sense for the franchise. Fox has one year left on his contract after the 2024-25 season and has rejected Sacramento’s extension offers so far. By moving him now, the Kings can maximize the return and avoid seeing him walk out as a free agent.
Fox entered the NBA in 2017 as a fifth overall pick in the NBA Draft. After a mixed rookie season, Fox emerged as the team’s best player and improved in each following year. He earned his first All-Star nod in 2023 while also being selected to the All-NBA third team.
Fox is averaging 25.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 6.2 assists in 2024-25. He has career averages of 21.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 6.1 assists while fourth in all-time points scored for the Kings.
Trading Fox would bring another major change to the Kings this season. The franchise previously moved on from head coach Mike Brown after a shaky start of the season and replaced him with assistant Doug Christie on an interim basis. Since Christie took over, the Kings went 11-4 and currently sit at No. 10 in the Western Conference standings with a 24-22 record.