Usual Culprit Revealed As Mastermind Behind De’Aaron Fox Trade

Jake Fischer, “The People’s Insider,” revealed via The Stein Line that this was no last-minute trade whim. Rich Paul had been working on a plan to pair one of Klutch Sports’ elite guards with Wembanyama for months. The shortlist included Darius Garland, Trae Young, and Fox.

Garland stayed loyal to Cleveland. Young, despite being viewed by his camp as a dream fit with Wemby, missed out entirely. That left Fox — whose contract situation as a 2017 draftee gave him rare leverage. That earlier expiration date meant he could quietly but effectively push for the exact move he wanted.

The Leverage That Closed the Deal

Fox’s advantage was timing. Garland and Young were locked into longer deals, giving their teams little reason to negotiate. Fox, however, could threaten to walk in free agency. For the Kings, that risk outweighed the reward of keeping him.

So, the path cleared. Sacramento sent Fox to San Antonio, where he would immediately step in as the No. 2 option alongside Wembanyama. This wasn’t just a basketball fit — it was a branding move, a positioning play designed by Rich Paul to secure both long-term visibility and competitive success for De’Aaron Fox.

A Move With Long-Term Implications

For San Antonio, Fox offers a proven star who can complement Wembanyama’s rise without stunting it. The partnership had a really sample size with both players sharing the court just five times. The Spurs lucked into the second pick in June’s draft where they selected Dylan Harper. Despite this overlap, the Spurs offered De’Aaron Fox a max four-year, $229 million extension, rewarding Rich Paul’s maneuvering.

With the dust settled, this deal can be remembered not just for the talent it brought to San Antonio, but for the power play that made it happen. Under slightly different circumstances, Young could have been the face of one of the rising teams in the West.