The Kings have missed out on the postseason for 15 straight seasons, which is tied for the longest playoff drought in NBA history (with the Clippers, from 1977-1992). Kings owner Vivek Ranadive has reportedly given GM Monte McNair the green light to make any roster moves necessary to improve their playoff chances and give them a pathway to sustained success going forward.
With that in mind, De’Aaron Fox‘s name has started popping up more in trade rumors. The Sacramento Bee’s guest columnist Brenden Nunes makes the case for building around the 24-year-old point guard. Nunes notes that there has been near-constant turmoil in Sacramento during Fox’s time with the team, including a rotating cast of ill-fitting teammates, three head coaches and two general managers.
Fox’s statistics of 20.7 PPG, 3.7 RPG, and 5.1 APG on .450/.247/.750 shooting (39 games, 34.2 MPG) are down from last season’s numbers of 25.2 PPG, 3.5 RPG, and 7.2 APG on .477/.322/.719 shooting (58 games, 35.1 MPG). Fox can be frustratingly inconsistent on both ends, but his talent is clear and Nunes believes the Kings should stick with Fox and Tyrese Haliburton as the backcourt of the future and build around the two young guards, as opposed to trading either of them.
Here’s more from the Pacific Division:
- The Suns may have a dilemma on their hands with Jalen Smith‘s unrestricted free agency looming this summer, according to John Hollinger of The Athletic. Smith performed well over a recent six-game stretch while Deandre Ayton and JaVale McGee were in the health and safety protocols, averaging 15.8 PPG, 10.2 RPG, and 1.0 BPG on .554/.385/.857 shooting in 25.5 MPG. Phoenix declined Smith’s third-year option of $4,670,160, so it can’t exceed that amount to retain him in free agency. If Phoenix were to trade Smith, the acquiring team also wouldn’t be able to exceed the amount of his third-year option, Hollinger writes. Given his strong play recently, it’s conceivable that a bidder in free agency could come up with an offer higher than the declined option, so any team interested in acquiring him via trade would essentially have Smith as a rental player in that scenario — severely limiting his trade value. Hollinger notes there’s still a chance the Suns could re-sign him relatively cheaply depending on how the rest of the season plays out, but it was a head-scratching move at the time that has come under more scrutiny after he was given actual playing time.
- Warriors guard Klay Thompson, who recently made his long-awaited season debut, is on a strict minutes limit of 20 per game right now, but he expects that to be bumped up “in a week or two,” writes Anthony Slater of The Athletic. Thompson has looked spry in his first two games back, averaging 15.5 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists in 20.0 minutes.
- Draymond Green is likely to miss at least three more games for the Warriors with calf soreness, Slater tweets. Head coach Steve Kerr said it’s “doubtful” that Green will join the team on its current road trip, which runs through Sunday in Minnesota.
Fox’s numbers this year remind me of rookie Dennis Smith Jrs numbers. We all know what happened to DSJ.
Fox with 21-4-5 shooting 45/25/75 in 34 minutes.
DSJ had 15-4-5 shooting 40/31/70 in 30 minutes.
Fox ain’t good shooting the three ball, or shooting from the free throw line, he’s not his teams best passer anymore that’s Haliburton, he doesn’t give you good defence. He’s really just a volume shooter that relays on his speed.
Kings should DEFINITELY trade him now while his value is up. Give Haliburton the keys. He was shoots super efficiently, dishes out the ball well, gets rebounds, defends well and when Fox was away he didn’t struggle at all. In fact he broke a franchise record, 4 consecutive games with 20+ points and 10+ assists which hadn’t been done since 1982.
If I were them I’d be targeting Brandon Ingram, John Collins, Sabonis or Ben Simmons.
I think fox is much more the player he was last year than this year. You can’t trade away a 24 year old who can put up 25 points a night and is signed for 4 years if you are the kings. What could they possibly get that is going to be close to good value? The team has a lot of talent that doesn’t work together. Make some smaller moves with Barnes, Holmes, Buddy and Bagley and keep Hali and Fox together.
They need sg, so J Brown would be best they can get for Fox.
For the love of everything holy the Kings do not need a guard
Your first sentence doesn’t make sense. “Much more the player” ?? “What could they possibly get that is going to be close to good value” Man I just said in the last sentence. Brandon Ingram, JC, Simmons or Sabonis would all be good targets.
Nah go big while Fox has value. What happens if he has another down season.
In fact what about DeAaron Fox and Tristan Thompson for Christian Wood, Eric Gordon and Kevin Porter Jr.
Kings then have Haliburton, KPJ, Barnes, Bagley and Wood as their starters. With Mitchell and Gordon as your back up guards, and Metu and Holmes your back up bigs.
Trade Buddy Heild and you have a solid team.
For the Rockets you get away from KPJ and Wood who you’ve had a little bit of issues with recently. You also shake off Eric Gordon’s big deal. In return you get back Fox who is only 24 and would be a very exciting fit with Jalen Green in an athletic backcourt. They also get Tristan Thompson for salary matching purposes but he helps fill the centre position you have struggled with all season.
Win win for both teams
That’s terrible. You have with KPJ, GORDON, Mitchell, Davis, Hield, Haliburton 6 guards. You have, with Wood a stats player (KPJ too) and lower talent and upside.
End of this debate
Kings must find a trade for buddy, mabye Barnes, maaaaaaybe holmes. The targets are Reddish, mabye Turner (spacing)
What’s wrong with 6 guards?
They currently have Fox Mitchell Haliburton Heild Davis Ramsey right now that’s 6.
Woods numbers are great and efficient.
KPJ his numbers aren’t amazing and his shot efficiency isn’t that good either but he’s got loads of potential. He was the youngest player to post 50 points and 10 assists. I think he would suit playing with Halliburton rather than Jalen Green. Haliburton handles the rock better and shoots really well, allowing KPJ to focus more on his own game and getting to his own shot.
I think Wood and KPJ both have really good upside and potential. I don’t think Fox if he stays on the kings will reach better stats than what he did last year. Whereas I think Wood can continue to be a great player and I think KPJ could thrive in a role which suit him more. I think both could be future all stars.
And as I said after this trade, then trade Buddy Heild as Eric Gordon would be your back up SG.
Klay Thompson has been kind of annoying since coming back
Or maybe you just hate things that make people happy
Moving from Fox would be one of the worst failings in the history of SAC… & boy that is to say something, right?
BTW is funny how so many people praises the PHO for their moves lately… I must say that the Bridges signing at that price will never be a good one, not signing Ayton was a big mess up, now J-Smith is proving to be another mess up from them, how long will they stick with a failing manager & FO, one must wonder?
I agree I always think what the hell are they thinking after some decision from above.
They let TJ Warren leave for literally nothing.
Bridges new deal is very very expensive, why didn’t they just extend Ayton earlier, messed up with Jalen Smith.
I thought drafting Smith in the first place was a dumb decision, thought they needed a better back up PG to sit and learn behind CP3 and they could’ve got Haliburton or Cole Anthony.
Instead they paid Cam Payne and traded for Shamet, both not bad moves but why not just draft the young point guard who many expected to be a top pick.
I even thought resigning CP3 to that amount was abit overkill. To think he’s 36 right now and getting 30mil and will continue to get 30mil for another 3 season at the age of 39.
Surely they could’ve got him for even less or looked elsewhere. Lonzo Ball for example that same off season signed for 20 mil a season and he’s only 23.
However right now on the court they are doing great once again. Monty Williams is a great coach and I knew once he left the Sixers he would do really well.
link to hoopsrumors.com
Must say… the HR “comment-section panel” supported the Suns declining Jalen Smith’s option by about 12-2, so it was a popular call around here too. (Only me and AL supported JSmith, and AL supports all.youngsters on principle.)
Declining his option killed his trade value too.
+15 Rtg, +5 on/off, 20 PER, ridiculous 7.6 offReb per36’… did better than 30%on 3s in college, so still can get better. Had a smooth stroke I thought, scouts dubious. Still fouls, a bit awkward by nature.
BTW Ayton is still under contract, plenty of time to get that done, and with more info to guide the offer.
James Jones & PHX & CPaul are doing great, so a funny choice of target.
The whole Jalen Smith thing is a stumbles really. They took him 10th overall although most expect him to be taken around 16-24.
So to begin with it was a reach.
Then they didn’t play him much and when they did he didn’t play well and it just looked like a bust of a pick. So they turned down his option in order to save money I’m guessing.
However he was the 10th pick and that alone holds value and probably means you should give him a chance.
Now that they have given him a chance he’s looked pretty good and he does still have a higher ceiling.
Which means come FA he’s likely going to cost them more than had they just not declined his option and if they were to trade him his value is lower cause he’s only going to be yours until FA then it’s a bidding war to keep him.
Just a bunch of bad decision on that one. Like I said they should’ve taken a back up PG like Haliburton or Cole Anthony who could’ve played a 6th man role, and sat and learned from CP3 and Devin Booker.
Haliburton/Anthony with Booker Bridges and Ayton would be a solid young contending core.
As for the CP3 thing. He turned down his player option which was 44mil and then signed a even worse 120mil 4 year extension.
I mean right now he’s playing great but what about in three years time when he’s 39 collecting 30mil. I just thought a 90/3 or 70/2 deal would’ve been better and it’s not like many other teams were going to pay more.
Taking a shorter deal and drafting a young point guard would’ve paved the way for a more successful future. Imagine Haliburton learning form CP3 right now and then taking over next year or the year after
PHX has one of the best FO’s in the league. JJ’s knowledge of the game, and how to put a team together, were evident from his first PC. It’s a contrarian indicator when message boards don’t like someone (and they certain didn’t like JJ). Until of course he turned the team into a winner and won EOY. Even the (mostly ignorant) PHX fanbase came around after that. This board needs to catch up. The job of a FO isn’t to win trades or draft days (those are 2k’er concepts), it’s to put a team together that wins games.
JJ job is to build a team and a large part in doing that is winning trades, drafting well and handling the contracts of players. He hasn’t exactly drafted amazingly, Bridges is great, and his ability with contracts needs work. Bridges got a bag and Ayton didn’t get get the max extension for whatever reason.
Monty Williams is the one who keeps the team clicking and winning. He tells JJ and the FO which players he wants and how he wants the team to play and makes them successful on the court. He’s also responsible for player development and he’s done a terrible job with Bridges and Payne.