The Sacramento Kings are one team that could look drastically different in the coming weeks ahead of the 2022 NBA trade deadline. They are expected to be aggressive, as ownership has given the green light to the front office to do whatever needs to be done to help get the Kings into the playoff picture and pave the path for the future.
One of the players that have now found their name circulating is point guard De’Aaron Fox. At the start of the season, Fox was one of the few players on the Kings that was deemed untouchable in trades. But, things have changed recently.
The Philadelphia 76ers are one team that could be interested in Fox as part of a return package in exchange for Ben Simmons. The Sacramento Kings want to build their roster around Fox and second-year guard Tyrese Haliburton, but if an opportunity arises that enables them to get closer to achieving their goals, they will take it.
De’Aaron Fox acknowledged the trade rumors, as he knows the losing means things could be shaken up. It isn’t something he tries to think about, but he knows at the end of the day it is a business and anything can happen.
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“You definitely think about potentially being traded because we are struggling,” Fox told Yahoo Sports on Wednesday night. “If you do have a change of scenery, it changes everything. I’ve been here for five years. I’ve built a life here, a family here. But once I’m on the court, all that is out the window. You’re not thinking about anything else that can happen outside of your control.
“But I’ve been through some deadlines. I’ve seen people get traded at the last second. You try not to think about it, but you know it’s a business and anything can happen. I’m not sure what’s going to happen. Obviously, you see reports on Twitter. Am I worried about it? No. Can it happen? Yeah, it can definitely happen.”
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The 24-year old Fox has immense potential, but he has not yet lived up to it. He has shown flashes of it and a change of scenery could help bring the most out of him. The Sacramento Kings have not been a great place for any young player to flourish, but Fox has done his best given the circumstances.
His shooting percentages are down a bit this season, but he has proven in the past he can be an elite playmaker or go-to scorer in the backcourt. His defense leaves something to be desired, but if he is surrounded by a better supporting cast or consistent coaching, we could see improvements on that end of the court.
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While De’Aaron Fox is aware of the trade rumors, he has made it clear that he is not requesting a trade. He will just be ready for whatever happens in the next few weeks.
“I’m not going to sit here and say I want to get traded, but anything can happen in this business,” Fox told Yahoo Sports. “You’ve seen the best players in the league get traded. You can’t think you’re safe. But I love being here because for years, the Kings were the only professional team in the city. Kings fans love the Kings. That’s what I’ve always loved about it. And me coming from Kentucky, that’s how it was. Even when we were good at football, no one cared. It was a basketball school. This is a basketball city and these fans have a genuine love for the Kings and the players, and it’s something that I love.”
While the 76ers have been mentioned as one possibility, another team to keep an eye on is the New York Knicks. They are desperate for a long-term answer at the point guard position and De’Aaron Fox would fit into their timeline well alongside RJ Barrett and Julius Randle.
