Speaking to reporters at Wednesday’s shootaround, Kings guard De’Aaron Fox “validated reports” that the team is listening to trade inquiries for him, according to Chris Biderman of The Sacramento Bee.
In the wake of ESPN’s Shams Charania reporting on Tuesday that the Kings are willing to discuss the possibility of trading their starting point guard, Fox said he wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up being moved ahead of next Thursday’s deadline.
“In this league, I expect the unexpected,” he said. “I think crazier things have happened. … That’s their decision to make. I can’t tell them not to listen to offers or I can’t tell them to listen to offers.”
According to Biderman, Fox said on Wednesday that he hasn’t requested a trade. Even if he had, he likely wouldn’t confirm it on the record to reporters, since a player who publicly asks to be traded is subject to a substantial fine from an NBA.
Still, Fox’s statement doesn’t contradict Tuesday’s reporting. Of course, those reports suggested that the 27-year-old has shown no inclination to sign a long-term extension with the Kings, who were advised by agent Rich Paul that it might be in their best interests to consider moving his client sooner rather than later. So even if no trade request has been made, it sounds like the team is feeling pressure from Fox’s camp.
Reports on Tuesday indicated that in the event of a trade, Fox has a preferred landing spot, which is believed to be San Antonio. While he didn’t confirm on Wednesday that he’s looking to get the Spurs, he also didn’t dispute the idea of having his eye on a particular team.
“For sure, I think everybody has a preferred destination,” Fox said, per Biderman. “I think everybody has a preferred destination if they’re not in the place that — or if they’re not going to be in the place where they are in the moment. I think it’s natural.”
Sacramento is seeking win-now players and draft assets in any Fox deal, Charania said during an appearance on ESPN’s First Take on Wednesday (Twitter video link).
The star guard remains under contract for one more season beyond 2024/25, so if the Kings don’t get an offer they like for him at next week’s trade deadline, they could resume trade talks in the offseason. As Biderman writes, Fox has no intention of sitting out games while waiting to see if he’s traded.
“Every day I step on the court, I do my job. That’s always my thing,” Fox said. “I’ve never been a person to worry about anything else or go and do anything else. Every time I step on the court, I try to play the best I can, I try to win games.”
Fox has spoken in the past about wanting to remain in Sacramento long-term as long as the team shows it’s capable of contending for a title and isn’t just battling for a playoff spot. The Kings are doing the latter this season, with a 24-22 record that puts them in 10th place in the West.
Asked whether there’s a chance the Kings hang onto Fox, upgrade their roster, and convince him to sign an extension during the 2025 offseason, the former Kentucky star didn’t rule out the possibility.
“I think anything’s possible in this league,” he said. “Like I said, crazier things have happened.”
Heat want Fox?
Kings don’t want Butler
Warriors to help Heat?
Stay tuned after these messages brought to you by Sillivan.
Fox is Kentucky
Heat have 3 Kentuckys?
Riley
Bam
Herro
Are they friends?
Kings need Draymond
3rd team needs Kuminga
Heat offer 2 Firsts to start
some insightful information right there! its practically a done deal if they’re friends!!
“Kings need Draymond”
This is even funnier than asking if Pat Riley, Bam, and Herro are friends. No one needs Draymond and his fool antics. He is in the twilight of his career making a lot of money. He’s a headache and already has beef with Sabonis.
Pistons could use him. They should of traded him there at draft.
Fox and Riley are definitely not friends
What? Why?
And what do the Warriors get? Because we DO NOT want Jimmy Butler lol
Sacramento should look at it as a blessing that DeAaron Fox wants out. Officially hand the team over to Sabonis. Fox shoots just 32% from 3 point. Why max contract a guard who shoots 32% from 3 point in today’s NBA??? Sabonis averaging 21 points, 14 boards and 6.5 assists while shooting 60% FG and 48% from 3 point. Zach LaVine’s contract doesn’t work with Fox on the roster for Sacramento, but he looks pretty good on Sacramento without him.
Agreed with you that Fox isn’t a needle mover.
Fox literally said he didn’t request a trade…
Also, the offense runs through Sabonis. You ever wonder why the dude has as many triple doubles as Fox does double doubles?
He has to. Can’t request a trade without financial ramifications, but his agent can make it clear as day to the Kings that he will not sign an extension and it’s better for them to move him now. Kings don’t have to listen, but it’s in their best interest to move him.
Fox is 88-251 from deep this season. If he’d had 6 more threes over 44 games or .13 more per game he’d be sitting at a very respectable .375. He also shot .369 from deep last season. I can’t see how .13 made threes per game makes that a much of a difference.
@taco: Just for fun, the Kings have lost five games by two or fewer points. Just one more 3 in those games and the Kings would have five more wins. There’s also a game against the Raptors that the Kings lost by three points where Fox went 0-11 (not a typo) from 3.
Conversely, though, if you remove just that one Raptors game from his stats, he would be shooting 88-240, or a palatable .367 from 3.
At the end of the day, though, his career 3 PT% is .333, which is pretty bad. Last season’s .369 was the outlier.
Agreed! Plus, he is a poor defensive player and it’s a mistake to give Max extensions to guys with questionable defensive skills. At least he isn’t pulling a Jimmy Butler and giving a winning effort. I’d like to see the Kings do well for a change. I remember the ancient KCO Kansas City Omaha Kings and would enjoy them winning a first round series if possible….
Weird…said yesterday he’s not forcing his way out and here it is from the dude himself.
Maybe people will listen to guys that actually follow teams and their players.
Guy was just trying to control his narrative that he wanted out. Butler should hire his agent and PR squad
Fox to spurs
Lavine and 3 frp to kings
Harrison Barnes,CP3 & Lyles to bulls with 2 frp
Kings should double down on trading to improve the roster. Get Cam Johnson. Get a rim protector, Sabonis is a great player overall and is playing extraordinaribly well, but in defense he can’t protect the rim, they need to address that to contend.
Josh Green could be useful, good defender at forward. Shouldn’t cost much.
It’s not common that a star PG doesn’t set the offense; at least that’s what I saw from the Kings-Warriors game a week or so ago. Maybe Fox isn’t accustomed to that, and that plays a part.
Considering what his agent said. Seems like Fox will test FA. So Sac should be looking. Kings should take best offer. Too bad nobody wants to stay in Sacramento. I agree it’s better to move him sooner that later.
“Fox addressed trade rumors on the court while his team was on defense.”