Brooklyn instantly becomes dark horse to trade for Kings guard De’Aaron Fox

Kings guard De’Aaron Fox is available ahead of the Feb. 6 trade deadline and has a target destination in mind, per ESPN’s Shams Charania.

All reports point to San Antonio as his preferred location, but the Nets are still among the teams that view Fox as a trade target, according to SNY reporter Ian Begley. It’s well known Brooklyn has league-leading cap space paired with dozens of draft picks across the next seven years, and although this 27-year-old veteran is exactly the type of prime talent you keep flexibility for, expediting a rebuild prior to the deadline still isn’t likely for the Nets. 

“It only makes sense for them if he is available in the offseason,” Begley reported. 

The Athletic’s Sam Amick added that Fox’s agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports, recently advised the Kings that it would be in their best interest to move him now.

Paul would be negligent if he didn't try to use leverage and get his client next to Victor Wembanyama; however, Sacramento still maintains the option to wait for a better deal if certain interested parties might be more generous in the summer. 

Trading for Fox now could interrupt the Nets’ momentous tank and knock other potential plans for the future off course. Once the lottery is decided and other sagas around the league unfold as the season closes, Brooklyn becomes more of a player if the Kings aren’t tempted or overwhelmingly pressured to make a move here. 

Houston was quickly mentioned as another team that might pursue Fox given his ties to Texas, but NBA writer Marc Stein says the Rockets aren't willing to consider major roster changes as it currently stands. 

In Monday’s performance against the Nets, Fox posted 30 points and seven assists on 57.9 percent shooting from the floor. Notably, he became an NBA All-Star, All-NBA selection and Clutch Player of the Year with Brooklyn head coach Jordi Fernandez on the Kings staff in 2022-23.

Fernandez served as an associate head coach in Sacramento from 2022 to 2024 and could easily help facilitate a comfortable transition through his offensive-minded approach and pro-player mentality.

Fox, who averages 25.2 points, 6.2 assists and five rebounds through 43 games this season, is under contract through 2025-26 at just over $37 million. The eighth-year guard has shot 33.3 percent from three-point range and 74.4 percent at the free throw line throughout his career.

Cam Thomas and Swipa in the same backcourt? It'd be something worth considering if the price and timing were both right.