The Kings are reportedly expected to begin discussions on the possibility of trading De’Aaron Fox before next Thursday’s trade deadline, according to Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link).
Charania notes that many teams are expected to show interest in Fox, but it’s believed that the star guard, who will become a free agent in 2026, has a specific destination in mind. Sam Amick of The Athletic (Twitter link) corroborates this information, adding that Fox has “continued to signal a lack of interest” in signing a contract extension with Sacramento.
The timing of this development is significant, given that the Kings have been playing their best basketball of the season recently, following the dismissal of head coach Mike Brown. Sacramento was 13-19 as of December 30, but they have since gone 11-3 under new coach Doug Christie, bringing their record to 24-22.
Nevertheless, Fox’s contract situation with the Kings remains uncertain. He declined a three-year, maximum-salary extension offer during the 2024 offseason, reportedly because he could earn a more lucrative deal in the summer of 2025, when he would be eligible for a four-year max deal or, if he earns All-NBA honors this season, a five-year super-max extension.
Fox has mentioned in both October and December that he doesn’t want to commit to Sacramento long-term unless he is confident the team can “compete at a high level” and is not just “fighting for a playoff spot.” Even with their recent success, the Kings still fall into the latter category, currently holding the No. 10 seed in the Western Conference.
More to come…
