Appearing on The Draymond Green Show, Kings guard De’Aaron Fox recounted his reaction to the news that Sacramento had traded Tyrese Haliburton to Indiana at last season’s deadline, explaining that he viewed the deal as a strong message from his team.
“For me, it’s like yo, they believe in me,” Fox said, per Ajayi Browne of Slam Online. “But two, it’s like motherf—-r, we just traded somebody who could be a franchise point guard either here or somewhere else. So, you better get on your s–t; you better start winning.”
The Kings received plenty of outside criticism for their decision to trade a rising star like Haliburton in his second NBA season, but Fox is determined to prove that the Kings made the right move by handing him the undisputed reins at point guard.
“Does it add pressure? Yeah, a little bit,” Fox said. “But, at the end of the day, I’ve been trying to get us in the playoffs for years, so it’s a little added pressure. It ain’t hurt anybody.”
Here’s more from around the Pacific:
- According to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports (Twitter video link), Suns forward Jae Crowder pushed back against the idea that he demanded a trade because he was told he wouldn’t be a starter. “I do not want to get into the details just yet,” Crowder said, as Haynes relayed during a TNT appearance. “But it’s definitely not true, the narrative being pushed about me not starting or not, I can honestly say that.”
- Asked about his impressions of Devin Booker so far this season, head coach Monty Williams described the Suns‘ star guard as “probably the most complete player in the league right now” (Twitter link via Gerald Bourguet of PHNX Sports). Booker has averaged 32.5 PPG on .530/.480/.882 shooting through four games (38.8 MPG).
- Williams’ comments on Booker came after a Suns victory over the Warriors in which sharpshooter Klay Thompson was ejected for the first time in his NBA career. Kendra Andrews of ESPN has the story on the chippy game between two Pacific rivals, Thompson’s first ejection, and Booker’s account of what Klay was saying to him before he left the floor: “They have four rings, repeated over and over.”
- In a conversation with Mark Medina of NBA.com, Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins explained that he took a pay cut on his new four-year, $109MM extension with Golden State because he didn’t want to leave a “winning organization” that treats him well. Wiggins’ goal is to eventually join teammates like Thompson, Andre Iguodala, Draymond Green, and Stephen Curry as “Bay Area legends,” he told Medina: “Hopefully by the time I’m done, people will look at me like that. I just have to keep putting in the work and accomplish what they have accomplished.”
Like Westbrook, this is the contract year for Crowder
One thing you don’t do is sacrifice
IMO, Sacrifice is a type of drug
ESPN analyst says someone makes Westbrook suffering
You must sacrifice a lot then. ;)
Lakers have interest in Terry Rozier.
Last week Gordan Hayward liked a tweet about him being traded to the lakers.
Hornets have so many issues with Bridges, Bouknight and Ball is out injured.
They should just yank another year or two.
Russ and 2 firsts for Gordan and Terry.
Terry Bev Bron AD Bryant
Schroder/Nunn Walker JTA Hayward Jones
Terry would be a solid third option after Bron and AD. He’s a really good ball handler, good scorer and shooter and can lock in on defence at times.
Bev and Terry would be solid on the perimeter, and with AD down low would be tough. Then off the bench Schroder and Hayward would be huge.
My concealment would still be centre. Bryant and Jones, those guys probably aren’t good enough to be starters on a team trying to win a championship and go deep into the playoffs. That’s where I still want them to get Tristan Thompson, Dwight Howard or Demarcus Cousins or something.
I’d def start Hayward but I dig that trade from LAL’s pov. If Charlotte does this they pretty much gotta trade Melo too tho. And they’d probably want Christie/Reaves or somebody like that too
Dennis Smith Jr aswell, look at how he’s got an opportunity and is turning it around.
Fully fit play DSJ Melo Oubre Washington Williams
Then off the bench Kemba Bouk Martin McDaniels Richards.
Behind that give minutes to Thor, Kai Jones and McGowens.
Good 20-30 win season and another top 5 pick. Hopefully one of the bigs develops into a 15-20 point per game 7-10 rebound guy. Then you have a new young big 3 and a better culture and bunch of young guys
Yeah I think you’d finish games with AD at the 5 and Bron and Hayward at the forward spots. But I think it would be important to start games with him coming off the bench adding scoring and shooting. Starting wise your going to be fine with Bron AD Terry and Bev doing their thing, you add Hayward to that then Bron and AD get less touches and/or Hayward can’t play his style of game either.
As for the hornets, nah I think they wouldn’t need to trade Melo. He’s still young and can be patient maybe make him happy and just give Gelo a contract for the year hahaha.
But it would give the young guys a really good opportunity, McDaniels, Thor, Richards, Williams, Bouknight etc etc.
I’d bring in Kemba aswell just as a veteran presence that can build a culture for the young guys.
But tank for another top 5 player in the draft to play alongside Melo and also hope one of the young guys develop into a 3rd piece to this team.
Was Klay trying to fire up his teammates?? If not, I dont get his behavior…. Instead of talking about 4 rings, play like one. I dont get why he cant come off the bench until he’s ready to play. Even Curry came off the bench for several games last season when coming back from the injury
Has been sleepwalking a lot from day 1. Klay is overthinking his acl injury, doubts gave him a reason not to do a lot in training camp also, so is not in shape and should be benched a lot more …
He knows he has regressed a lot from his all star level…
@Sebch We know you you hate Klay. Can you find a better player in the Warriors lineup. This player has to work right now
He’s had a string of bad games and I think that was the main problem.
It is pretty obvious. Defense. Klay is their best defensive guard. You need him in the starting rotation. Besides, it only matters how a team finishes. They are only 4 games into the season. Way to soon to start complaining. These didn’t come together until the playoffs last year. Why are you whining now?
Lakers gotta dump Westbrook. For nothing. Buy his ass out. Locker roomo hates his ass, That’s more then clear. Addition by subtraction. What the hell is the F.O. waiting for?
I’m a Warriors fan:
Maybe I never paid close attention to
klay before he got hurt, but he is so unlikeable since coming back.
You’re a fan since when, six years ago?
Six minutes ago.