The Sacramento Kings are looking to trade their All-Pro guard De’Aaron Fox after months of rumors that both sides were unable to agree on an extension. Fox is set to become an unrestricted free agent in 2026, and the market for the speedy guard is heating up. ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that since the official announcement yesterday, the Kings have received “dozens and dozens” of phone calls.
However, it seems Fox has already decided where he wants his future to be—San Antonio. Star big man Victor Wembanyama would welcome an experienced guard like Fox into the fold. Additionally, Fox’s wife’s family is from the San Antonio area, and having grown up in Louisiana and Houston, the move would bring him closer to home—a much shorter distance than Sacramento.
With Fox’s contract expiring soon, many teams are hesitant to trade for him, fearing that he would sign with San Antonio in free agency. When Fox turned down a three-year, $160 million extension, the writing was on the wall. He has not shown a willingness to negotiate or commit to Sacramento long-term. Fox is owed $37.1 million next season.
Fox’s situation is different from Jimmy Butler’s, as Shams Charania explained on First Take this morning.
“This is a massive domino. We’ve been talking about Jimmy Butler for weeks on end, but this is a different situation,” Charania said. “De’Aaron Fox is in the prime of his career, he’s a max contract no-brainer, and he has the ability to transform a team. So then the question is: Where is De’Aaron Fox going to end up? League sources tell me that the San Antonio Spurs are the preferred destination.”
If the Kings can get maximum value for Fox from San Antonio, reports indicate that he could be traded before the February 6 deadline.
