De’Aaron Fox‘s name has surfaced more frequently in trade rumors as of late, after Sam Amick of The Athletic reported earlier in the month that the Kings don’t consider the point guard untouchable. Like other reporters, Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports has heard Sacramento’s internal plan is to continue building around Fox and Tyrese Haliburton, but Haynes also says the team has received an “abundance of interest” in its top two guards and doesn’t consider them entirely off-limits.
For his part, Fox is aware of the trade rumors and isn’t ruling out the possibility of being on the move by the February 10 trade deadline.
“You try not to think about it, but you know it’s a business and anything can happen,” Fox told Haynes. “I’m not sure what’s going to happen. Obviously, you see reports on Twitter. Am I worried about it? No. Can it happen? Yeah, it can definitely happen.”
The Kings haven’t come particularly close to ending their lengthy postseason drought since Fox joined the team in 2017. Still, the 24-year-old says he has “built a life” in Sacramento and wouldn’t be eager to join a new team, even if he recognizes it’s a possibility.
“I’m not going to sit here and say I want to get traded, but anything can happen in this business,” he said to Haynes. “You’ve seen the best players in the league get traded. You can’t think you’re safe. But I love being here because for years, the Kings were the only professional team in the city. Kings fans love the Kings. That’s what I’ve always loved about it. And me coming from Kentucky, that’s how it was. Even when we were good at football, no one cared. It was a basketball school. This is a basketball city and these fans have a genuine love for the Kings and the players, and it’s something that I love.”
Here’s more on the Kings:
- In his discussion with Haynes, Fox also shared some thoughts on his offensive role: “I think I’m a scorer. Just with the work that I continue to put in and knowing what I do when the cameras are off. Just being one of the best scorers in the league, truthfully. I think I’ve proven that I can facilitate at times when need be. I was top five in assists before, but my game is more of being a scorer. Just being able to put all of that together and being one of the best scorers.”
- According to Haynes, the Sixers “canvassed the prospect” of a Ben Simmons trade involving Fox in recent days, but those discussions were just exploratory. For what it’s worth, Kyle Neubeck of PhillyVoice.com (Twitter link) continues to report that Philadelphia likely wouldn’t be interested in Fox as the centerpiece of a Simmons deal.
- In his latest Substack column, Marc Stein says he has heard more than one rival executive classify the Kings as the closest thing to “favorites” in the Simmons sweepstakes, in part because there’s a sense they could be convinced to take on Tobias Harris‘ oversized contract.
- Stein notes that the Kings are engaged with multiple teams on multiple scenarios, so their deadline could go in a number of different directions. According to Stein, there’s an expectation that Sacramento will trade Buddy Hield and there’s a “rising belief” that the team could also move Harrison Barnes. Marvin Bagley III remains a prime trade candidate too.
- Sources tell Haynes that the Kings are expected to be “aggressively active” at the trade deadline.
I wonder if Mavs and Kings could build something around a Fox (24 yrs old) for Porzingis (26 yrs old)+ a future 1st pick trade …
Fox has more value, but the contracts line up. From Kings’ perspective, they could free up Tyrese to run the point full time and play KP at PF to give them a solid offensive producer in the post or spot up shooting (plus enabling Hield or Davion Mitchell to get in the starting lineup). But perhaps they shy away from his injury history …
From the Mavs perspective, Fox would give them a contingency plan if Brunson walks in free agency. He would be a ball handler to alleviate pressure on Luka and allow them to play at a quicker tempo. But perhaps they shy away from Fox’s outside shooting woes …
It’s not a perfect fit. Just thinking out loud.
Gonna be tough to let go of Fox. You can tell he genuinely enjoys being a King which is extremely rare
What makes you think he enjoys being a King? Of course he’s gonna say what he said.
League needs to move that team. So many cities would be more competitive.
Ya and they’d be lucky to have a guy that played with his chin up in a league worst franchise
How is it the city that is making the team uncompetitive? You think we all vote on how to screw up draft picks every year?
I’m a 76ers fan, but Sacramento Kings fans aren’t the reason the team is in a drought. Vlade Divac as the GM,on the other hand, DESTROYED the franchise with everything he did. Draft picks, trades, free agent signings, coaching hires- anything he touched-sucked!
It’s probably his shooting that gives Morey pause. He isn’t an elite shooter and that’s the main thing that the Sixers need. Fox is pretty much living up to what his draft comparison was: John Wall. Play fast get to the rim not a great shooter. He had that one year where he shot well for a while and then I hasn’t happened again.
If Morey isn’t interested in Fox in a simmons trade, I think Simmons just has to play for the Sixers this season, I can’t really imagine a team deciding to beat a De’aaron Fox offer mid season, all the players better than him in the league are on good teams who likely won’t want to mess with chemistry mid season, and Simmons certainly can cause problems in the locker while he openly weeps for his mommy to rub his tum tum and tell him he’s a good shooter
Fox: Sacramento’s a basketball city
Sacramento: 29th in attendance
Name a team in any sport that hasn’t made the playoffs in 15 years and has good attendance.
With a Superstar like Embiid on the team, Philly wasn’t able to win a championship with $70M+ locked up by Simmons and Harris… what can any other team offer to match this and still keep a superstar to make a run at a championship?
There has to be a 3rd team involved taking bad contracts for something in return.
I’m moving fox, bagley and picks to okc for Alexander, then flipping him,buddy to the Sixers for Simmons and picks.
Your playing 2k? Cause that’s the only way something that preposterous happens
76ers don’t have any interest in Buddy- they have Seth Curry, Shake Milton, Danny Green, Matisse Thybulls can all Play
If the Sixers could get SGA they’d have done it yesterday. I think OKC is going to build around SGA and use their picks to move up in drafts for top tier talent like Chet.
No, they wouldn’t have. They were offered SGA, Muscula/Favors and 1st rd pick and passed. They don’t feel PG is a need of theirs at this point. They are looking for someone who can play the 3 who can score and defend, and a 4 who can rebound and shoot the 3.They are trying to find a multiple team deal where they can move Simmons and Harris both(maybe even throw in a 1st/young players, and bring back someone like Jaylen Brown and John Collins (although everything I’ve seen, says Collins can not be dealt until 5/5 due to a Bird’s rights extension that went over 20% of his previous salary which took ATL over the salary cap.
Keep an eye out on Zion Williams being included in a multi-team deal. He is less likely to play for NO than Simmons is to suit up for the 76ers.
Simmons to the Kings would be so anticlimactic! DeAaron Fox is the difference maker in Philly? Send Simmons somewhere good, we’ve waited this long. DRAMA!!!
Fox thinks he one of the best scorers in the league. Dude your shooting worse from three than Russell Westbrick. Your 20.9 points per game is 22nd in the league.
As for his I was top 5 in assists before. 2018/19 he was 4th in total assists but 8th in assists per game.
Not to be taken the wrong way but Fox reminds me of Russell Westbrook. He relays heavily on this athleticism, isn’t efficient from three, can get assists but doesn’t exactly create its more the fact he has the ball in his hands so often. Russ is more athletic and works harder hence the MVP seasons and triple doubles whereas Fox is faster and has more potential as a shooter.
A lot of talent on 1 team with no clue.Fox,Haliburton,Heild,Davis,Harkless& Mitchel is deep with great value.Barnes,Bagley,Metu,Holmes, & Thompson have shown success given the minutes.These players don’t suck at all and there’s tons of value.Simmons is not what they are missing imo.They should be on ATL about Collins.Toronto about Siakam etc…Talented teams that are lost are plentiful…Atl,Mia,Phily,Lakers,Clippers,Minn,Bos,Port,Wizards,Hornets,NO…There’s more mix and match then Simmons in this world.Move on
On the other hand, Simmons wins games, Kings don’t. Pride is an odd fit here.
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I have said Fox should be on the trading block, but a trade does not seem the right thing now. Davion Mitchell is not pushing for time yet.
Think Barnes is about as good as a player as the Lakers could net today with Tht Nunn and the 28′ 1st
Sac should have other offers to mull over as well but Id be into sending that offer today if I was Rob Pelinka in hopes of catching an early worm
#FreeBenSimmons
I’m not sure why anyone would think Phila is a talented “but lost” team. They have been ravaged with injuries, covid trips, a whiny Kangaroo who makes $33M/year but won’t play for the team because the coach didn’t publicly endorse him as a “Championship level point guard” 20 minutes after Simmons completed his 6th awful playoff game out of 12 last year, where he was so afraid to end up on the FT line, he passed up a wide open dunk. However, even with all of this going on, the 76ers are the #5 seed in the East, just 2.5 games out of the #1 seed. The 76ers are 21-9 when Embiid is in the lineup and have beaten #1 seed, CHI 2x,#2 BRK,& #3MIA. They did lose their only match up vs. #4 seed MIL so far, but I’m fairly certain. They can beat anyone, provided Joel is healthy.