Disastrous homestand could lead to Kings All-Star’s departure

Ivey’s shot over Fox completed a 16-point fourth-quarter comeback for the Detroit Pistons in a 114-113 win. It meant that the Kings dropped every single game in a five-game homestand that dropped them to 13-18, 12th place in the Western Conference.

It also might force the team’s hand when it comes to its All-Star guard. Fox can become a free agent after the 2025-26 season. While he has expressed his love for the city of Sacramento, he also told The Athletic before the season that he wants to "make sure" the Kings are "competing at a high level for a long time, not just fighting for a playoff spot."

For the last two seasons, it’s been the latter. After getting the No. 3 seed and losing in the first round of the 2023 playoffs, the team has been fighting for playoff spots. Last year, they defeated the Golden State Warriors in one play-in game, then lost to the New Orleans Pelicans.

This season, they’re not out of the play-in race, but they’re not competing at a high level. They dropped two home games to the Los Angeles Lakers last week and have to face them again Saturday.

If Fox doesn’t want to commit to the team long-term, this is the ideal time for the Kings to trade him. He’d immediately become the best player on the trade market if Pat Riley is to be believed about Jimmy Butler’s unavailability.

The Kings can maximize the value they get for Fox if they trade him during this season, but it would mean giving up on the team they assembled with a win-now sign-and-trade for DeMar DeRozan this summer. If the Kings continue to drop games, DeRozan could become available as well.

One other reason Fox might be on the move? His agent is Rich Paul of Klutch Sports, who historically has not been shy about helping to get his clients off of losing teams. After this disastrous homestand, the Kings are a losing team until they can prove otherwise.