De'Aaron Fox Has Three NBA Teams At The Top Of His Trade List

In the wake of trying times for the Sacramento Kings, the future has never been so uncertain for star point guard De'Aaron Fox. As he and his camp mull a trade this season, there are three teams at the top of his preferred landing spots.

"The San Antonio Spurs, Miami Heat, and Los Angeles Lakers top the list of teams that are most often discussed as possible Fox landing spots, with others sure to make a run at him if he’s truly on the market," wrote The Athletic's Sam Amick.

Fox, 27, has been with the Kings for the entirety of his career. After getting drafted 5th overall, he's become the face of the franchise and their leader both on and off the court. And while Fox has not yet officially asked for a trade, there's a growing belief that he may be available this upcoming summer.

"While league sources say Fox has not asked for a trade, that hasn’t stopped interested teams from planning for a possible run at the 27-year-old former All-Star. Among interested teams, there is a strong belief that Fox is more likely to be available this summer rather than before the Feb. 6 trade deadline."

Fox led the Kings through some of their best times (including a first-round playoff battle against the Golden State Warriors). But the Kings have been in decline ever since, starting with the 2023-24 campaign when they finished 9th in the West at 46-36.

This season, despite a healthy core of Fox, Domantas Sabonis, and DeMar DeRozan, the Kings have been unable to keep up in the West and currently rank 12th at 15-19. They fired head coach Mike Brown and have yet to find any suitable replacements.

With two years and $71 million left on his contract, Fox will have to force a trade if he wants to leave the Kings in 2025. He does have some leverage and many teams will be after his services as a young and athletic point guard with elite playmaking skills.

At the top of the list is the San Antonio Spurs. After years of playing losing basketball with the Kings, Fox can go to an experienced franchise and thrive playing under one of the best head coaches in the league (Gregg Popovich). More importantly, he'd be playing alongside Victor Wembanyama, who is already proving himself as one of the best players in the game.

The Miami Heat are a legendary franchise and it's no surprise that Fox is the latest star player to express interest in joining. Their iconic winning culture combined with a talented roster should make them a formidable team with Fox leading the way.

Of course, there's also the Lakers. It's no secret that team GM Rob Pelinka is looking for reinforcements and Fox is exactly the type of point guard they've been looking for. It'd be a dream come true for De'Aaron, who would get to play in the biggest market in the NBA.

With weeks to go before the NBA's trade deadline, it's anyone's guess where Fox will end up or how long he'll be with the Kings. But if Fox has his way, he'll end up in one of his three preferred teams with a chance to compete for his first championship.