The Sacramento Kings have been one of the most frustrating teams in the NBA to begin the 2024-25 season. Expectations were high for the Kings after they acquired DeMar DeRozan in a $76.7 million deal over the summer, but so far all Sacramento has done consistently is lose close games.
If the season ended today, the Kings wouldn't even be in the Western Conference play-in tournament. Sacramento is 13-15 overall and ranks 19th in the league in winning percentage despite being 11th in net rating. The biggest reason was the predicament near the end of the game. Sacramento is 6-11 in clutch games this year, tying the league's record for most losses in clutch games against the tank-like Hornets and Raptors.
The Kings will also have to deal with trade speculation surrounding their best players as they face an uphill climb in the rest of the Western Conference.
De'Aaron Fox turned down a contract extension from the Kings during the offseason. With only one season left on his contract after this year, Sacramento needs to lock him down or trade him before risking losing him for nothing in 2026 free agency. Fox's agent, Rich Paul, has already discussed his future with the Kings. According to a new report by Sam Amick of The Athletic..
If Fox decides not to extend his contract due to the team's trend toward mediocrity, Sacramento may need to explore trade options either before the Feb. 6 deadline or this summer. According to The Athletic, one team has already expressed interest. san antonio spurs. Per Amick:
Meanwhile, rival executives are closely monitoring Fox's situation, with the San Antonio Spurs in particular considering the Houston native as a potential partner for Victor Wembaneyama if Fox becomes available, according to league sources. It is said that they are preparing to acquire the same player. Barring a major comeback by the Kings, other teams are certainly close.
The Spurs currently sit in 11th place in the Western Conference standings, one spot above the Kings. San Antonio has continued to slowly develop around Victor Wembaneyama, but with the sophomore big man's rapid improvement, the team knows it will soon be time to show what he can do.
San Antonio owns atlanta hawksThey own the Chicago Bulls' top-10 protected pick in 2025, but their protection has diminished by the 2027 draft. what they have is minnesota timberwolves'Unprotected 2031 first round pick. The Spurs also own all of their future first-round picks.
Not to mention, San Antonio is given the draft compensation that any team would covet in a trade for a player as good as Fox. Add in the three or so first-round picks going to the Kings in this deal, and there is at least the framework for a trade that makes sense.
Could the Kings get Stephon Castle or Devin Vassell in this trade? Vassell is likely, but it still feels like a stretch for a team that wants to significantly move up the rankings by signing this contract.
Will De’Aaron Fox trade rumors pass the sniff test?
Yes and no.
The Kings are currently running like a team that really wants to win. They paid the 35-year-old DeRozan a big contract and gave up a 2031 pick swap with the Timberwolves to do so. Sacramento only appeared in the playoffs once in 2005-2006. The franchise hasn't won a playoff series since 2004.
When Sacramento lost a tough first round to the Warriors in 2023, it was supposed to be the beginning of their rise around Fox, Domantas Sabonis and Keegan Murray. Since then, Fox and Sabonis have played at a near-All-NBA level, but neither Murray nor fellow wing shooter Kevin Huerter have taken a shot this year. Sacramento's offense is good (currently 8th in the league), but not as elite as expected. The defense is performing pretty much as expected at No. 14 overall, but the Kings will always have problems on that end of the floor with this talent.
Western countries don't have much room for upside. The Timberwolves, Suns, and Warriors are currently in the play-in tournament, which would be a disaster for each team. The Spurs are coming. Even if they overtake mid-ranked teams like lakers It won't be easy for Sacramento.
It's difficult to gauge how serious Fox is about potentially leaving the Kings in free agency at this point. Before Paul George left the Clippers 76ers Over the summer, it had been years since Max Free Agent changed teams in free agency. These days, it's common for players to take as much money as possible from their current team's contract extensions and then force their way out.
But if Fox really wants to leave Sacramento, he might be able to turn down an extension that would give the Kings a hand without looking bad in the process.
I don't think Sacramento will trade Fox at the deadline unless things get really bad. That probably won't happen on a team that still has a positive net rating and should get lucky someday. In all likelihood, the Kings will maintain a batting average around .500 as the season draws to a close and have a good chance of making the playoffs in the play-in.
Ultimately, this Kings team isn't good enough to win even if it reaches a playoff series, and the ball will likely be back in the Foxes' court this summer when the next extension offer arrives. The Kings need to look at the future at face value and not be delusional. It's always good to be proactive in situations like this while your team still has leverage. That influence won't last forever.
Either way, Fox's name has officially surfaced in trade rumors. There is usually only one way to end this situation.
