The Sacramento Kings have yet another twist in their tale. This time, it could be much bigger than the previous one. A few weeks ago, the management fired Mike Brown, who had won the Coach of the Year award with the Kings, after a 13-18 start. While the team seemed to have improved under the new leadership of Doug Christie, the team has a big imposing problem involving De’Aaron Fox. Are the Kings going to pay a heavy price for the mistake they committed three years ago?
The All-Star guard has been on the trade radar for over the last few weeks. A lot of teams fancied their chances, including the LA Lakers. Adding Fox alongside Anthony Davis and LeBron James would not only improve their championship odds but also help the team in the long run for rebuilding purposes. However, the dream was shattered.
Before that, renowned NBA Insider Shams Charania earlier today confirmed the upcoming blockbuster trade. The ESPN analyst said, “The Sacramento Kings have decided to open on a potential trade of De’Aaron Fox ahead of the February 6 NBA Trade deadline. They are now open to listening and potentially moving De’Aaron Fox ahead of the deadline.” Along with the crucial news, he also added a crushing update to the Lakers fans, saying, “I am told the Lakers are not part of that destination of choice for De’Aaron Fox potentially.”
Now that the Lakers are out of the way, Fox has plenty of options in front of him. However, the 27-year-old, who is eligible for a max contract if he makes to All-NBA team this season, seemed to have made his pick.
De’Aaron Fox reportedly prefers to join Victor Wembanyama on the Spurs, via @James_HamNBA
As a upcoming free agent in 2026, Fox could “force” his way to San Antonio
(h/t @TheDunkCentral) pic.twitter.com/4GHQsSYgOD
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) January 28, 2025
As per Insider James Ham, Fox reportedly prefers to join hands with Victor Wembanyama at the San Antonio Spurs. With only a year left for free agency, the star guard could force his way into the Texas side.
What was the Kings’ haunting mistake from 3 years ago involving De’Aaron Fox?
It’s a big twist in the Kings‘ tale because they are about to lose their core player. The team had banked on the 8-season experienced guard three years ago and decided to build the surrounding team. While it’s an unfortunate thing to lose him at face value, it’s even more daunting to know the price that the team paid for it.
Three years ago, the team traded out Tyrese Haliburton ahead of the 2022 deadline and roped in Domantas Sabonis from the Pacers. It was a greedy trade made to raise the team’s championship stakes and build a team around the Sabonis-Fox duo. So far after the trade, the team has made it to the playoffs once and exited in the very first round.
On the other hand, the Pacers under the leadership of Haliburton, the team has already played the Western Conference Finals last season. Moreover, the Indiana side has currently clinched the fifth seed in the East, looking to make yet another strong case in the postseason. Meanwhile, the Kings, standing in the 10th seed, have lost both players. Will the Kings find a perfect replacement for Fox? Let us know in the comments.
The post NBA Trade Deadline: Kings Haunted by 3-Year Mistake as De’Aaron Fox Confirms Destination After Snubbing Lakers appeared first on EssentiallySports.