With the trade deadline approaching, the market has once again heated up. Following the Warriors and Lakers' trades to strengthen their teams, the Rockets have become a focal point of attention due to the rumors surrounding the departure of Kings' backcourt core, De'Aaron Fox. American media outlets have proposed a 9-for-3 trade deal for the Rockets, which local Houston media have praised with a high B+ rating. They also suggest a more perfect three-party trade, advocating for the sale of Green and retention of the "White Wizard."
The reason behind Fox's involvement in trade rumors is primarily due to contract renewal issues and the Kings' poor performance. The Kings had hoped to complete an early contract extension with Fox during the offseason, which could have been worth $165 million over three years.
Under the guidance of his agent, Rich Paul, Fox rejected the contract as they aimed for a 229milliondealoverfouryearsinthe2025offseason.IfFoxweretomaketheAll−NBAteamthisseason,hewouldevenbeeligibleforasupermaxcontractworth345 million over five years with the Kings.
However, following the acquisition of DeMar DeRozan in the offseason, the Kings' performance has not improved; instead, there are signs of collapse. In the first 34 games, they only managed 15 wins, ranking fourth from the bottom in the West, and may not even qualify for the play-in tournament.
In mid-December, Rich Paul flew to Sacramento to meet with the Kings' management to discuss the future of the team and Fox. Subsequently, head coach Mike Brown was fired; he had been unanimously elected Coach of the Year just 20 months prior. This change briefly reversed the Kings' downward trend, securing two consecutive victories, but the team remained in 12th place.
Journalist Eric Pincus from Bleacher Report then broke the news that Fox might apply for a trade before the trade deadline this season, and the Kings might consider all options. He specifically mentioned the Rockets, believing that Houston is the best trading partner for both Fox and the Kings. The Kings are very fond of Shepard, and a package centered around Shepard, Whitmore, and a first-round pick would be a strong offer.
After the new year, NBA insider Cris Davis publicly stated that Rich Paul and insiders from Klutch Sports had informed all teams in the league that Fox would not renew his contract with the Kings and planned to push for a trade during the offseason.
In multiple reports about Fox, the Rockets have been reported to be very interested in acquiring the 27-year-old top-tier guard to enhance their backcourt strength.
Therefore, Houston media outlet Space City Scoop also reviewed the 9-for-3 trade proposal by Bleacher Report journalist Eric Pincus, considering it a reliable B+ level choice.
The 9-for-3 trade proposal is as follows:
Rockets receive: Fox + Lyles + McDermott;
Kings receive: Shepard + Whitmore + Jeff Green + Tate + Landale + 2027 first-round swap + 2028 first-round + 2030 first-round + 2031 first-round swap.
Considering the Rockets' unreliable performance in crucial moments this season, Mr. Big Shot Fox would be one of the perfect reinforcement choices. At only 27 years old, he would be an upgraded version of VanVleet and more in line with the Rockets' rebuilding plan.
However, Space City Scoop believes that from the Rockets' perspective, sending out Jalen Green would be a more reasonable choice. Both Jalen Green and Fox are players with great impact but lack consistent three-point shooting, which could lead to overlap and conflict on the court.
In contrast, Whitmore is still on a rookie contract and is demonstrating reliable scoring ability. Trading away Jalen Green and keeping the "White Wizard" would be a better choice. It would also allow the Rockets to retain several expiring contracts, facilitating further operations or freeing up more space to renew contracts with Ethan and Jabari Smith Jr.
Therefore, Space City Scoop also proposes a more ideal three-party trade, with the specifics as follows:
Rockets receive: Fox + Orlando Robinson;
Kings receive: Jalen Green + Shepard + 2025 second-round (top 55 protected) + 2027 first-round (the worst among Nets, Rockets, and Nets) + 2029 first-round (the second-best among Mavericks, Rockets, and Suns);
Pistons receive: Jeff Green + 2026 second-round pick from the Rockets.