Five best potential De’aaron fox trade destinations
De’Aaron Fox is available for trade before the 2025 deadline, according to Tuesday’s reporting from Shams Charania. Fox, a free agent after the 2025/26 season, had a strong relationship with former Sacramento Kings head coach Mike Brown, who was fired in December.
The Kings have gone 11-4 since Doug Christie replaced Brown. Fox has scored 22.7 points per game over that period, which is lower than his season averages since 2019/20.
Sacramento has a decision to make. Trade Fox before the deadline for pieces to help them win-now or hold on until summer when more assets could be available. Even with their surge since changing head coach, the Kings are 10th in the Western Conference and +136 to make the playoffs at FanDuel.
San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs are Fox’s preferred trade destination, per James Ham. With only 18 months until he becomes a free agent, Fox has a strong say over his potential landing spot unless a team is willing to give up the necessary assets to get the All-Star guard for two postseasons.
It was a matter of time until a star wanted to team up with Victor Wembanyama. The Spurs are armed with tradeable salaries in Harrison Barnes, Keldon Johnson, and Zach Collins. They also have up to 36 future draft picks to include in a potential deal.
San Antonio can give a mega picks-based package but that might not be what the Kings want if they are trying to stay competitive. Stephon Castle is surely off the table. Does Keldon Johnson have enough upside to be the centerpiece along with a couple of future firsts?
Out to +650 to make the postseason at DraftKings, the Spurs are a great option if they land Fox. It might be worth them waiting this out, though, and getting another lottery pick.
Miami Heat
Could the Kings swap Fox for Jimmy Butler and picks? It’s one way to move on from Fox while pursuing a playoff berth.
Alternatively, Miami could look to Fox as their lead guard in the post-Butler era. Fox could be moved in a multi-team deal or he could end up on Erik Spoelstra’s team alongside a disgruntled Butler.
Does Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and the Heat’s 2031 first get the deal done? Does Miami need to put in more draft capital?
Miami is +380 to win the Southeast Division at FanDuel. If they could get Fox as part of a Butler trade without giving up Herro or Bam Adebayo, they would suddenly become a real threat in the east.
It wouldn’t be enough to make them a worthwhile title wager, though. That backcourt defense would be rough.
Brooklyn Nets
The Brooklyn Nets are rebuilding and selling off pieces. An All-NBA-caliber player like Fox could change their plans given their arsenal of draft capital. Fox would slot at the top of NBA trade deadline candidates and could be the player Brooklyn looks to build around in the second half of the 2020s.
Brooklyn is a better offseason fit than they are right now, yet it could work out if they wrap Fox in cotton wool for the rest of this season.
Cam Thomas, Cam Johnson, salary filler, the 2025 Milwaukee Bucks first-round pick, and Brooklyn’s 2026 first-round pick seems like a fair package. Sacramento has been linked with Johnson in the past. Thomas would be an upside pickup to give some scoring punch in Fox’s absence.
It would leave the Kings on Devin Carter at the one. This isn’t a likely outcome unless Brooklyn overwhelms Sacramento with a haul of picks, but it wouldn’t be the first curious decision from the Kings front office.
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are mentioned when any star becomes available. Fox is no exception, especially after Anthony Davis and LeBron James made their desire for roster improvements public.
Fox, a subpar defender throughout his career, would not address the Lakers’ glaring perimeter defense weakness. His offense would be electric next to James and Davis, but it’s not getting them past the west’s elite teams.
Still, we should never rule the Lakers out. They have the picks to tempt the Kings with, though it’s hard to see how they get this deal done without including Austin Reaves or Max Christie. That might be where talks break down if the Kings are looking for players to help them this season and next.
Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic are +3500 to win the Eastern Conference at DraftKings. Finally getting healthy, the Magic are a dark horse in the Fox sweepstakes.
Orlando has been reluctant to make trades, instead persevering with their core. Fox’s scoring would elevate their offense, yet it would be a change of direction from Orlando’s size and defense identity.
Jonathan Isaac’s salary could get the Magic most of the way to a deal. He’s important to the team as currently constructed, though, so Orlando could look to work around Anthony Black, Cole Anthony, and Gary Harris. Jeff Weltman has a full catalogue of future firsts to include, too.
Yes, it would deplete their depth. But it’s a package that could appeal to Sacramento.
Black gives the Kings another player to build around in the backcourt along with Carter. Anthony is a reliable rotation guard. Harris would be a useful depth piece on the wing.
A playoff rotation of Fox, Jalen Suggs, Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Isaac, Wendell Carter Jr., and Goga Bitadze is formidable. Orlando’s title odds would plummet in this scenario – they would become a value bet to make the Finals with their elite defense accompanied by Fox’s scoring.
