Recently, rumors about the potential trade of the Kings' backcourt core, De'Aaron Fox, have been rampant. This is mainly due to the team's poor performance this season. The Kings made a big trade in the offseason to acquire DeMar DeRozan, hoping to make further progress, but they failed to live up to expectations. They suffered consecutive defeats and their locker room was in chaos. Ultimately, head coach Mike Brown was fired, and the team fell into another low point.
Fox also put pressure on the team through his agent, hinting that he might consider leaving. As a quasi-All-Star level player, Fox is still very popular. Reports suggest that if Fox wants to leave, teams like the Rockets and Spurs will pursue him vigorously. The Rockets, in particular, seem to be particularly interested in Fox, as they are in need of a star player who can perform in clutch situations. Therefore, they are expected to be one of the top contenders for Fox.
American media has also confirmed this news, stating that the Rockets will lead the race for Fox. In recent days, an article by Eric Pincus, a salary expert at Bleacher Report, pointed out that NBA rumors indicate that Fox may push for a trade before the February 6 trade deadline, and the Kings may consider all options. One team stands out as their most likely trading partner: the Rockets.
The journalist also provided a very informative trade proposal:
Kings receive: Reed Sheppard, Cameron Whitmore, Jeff Green, Jaxson Hayes, Jock Landale, 2027 first-round swap rights, 2028 first-round pick, 2030 first-round pick, 2031 first-round swap rights, 9.2milliontradeexception(Fox),2.1 million trade exception (McDermott)
Rockets receive: De'Aaron Fox, Trey Lyles, Doug McDermott
On January 3rd, Beijing time, another well-known reporter also confirmed this news. According to ClutchPoints reporter Brett Siegel, there are currently no signs that Fox will be traded. However, the reporter also stated that if Fox actively applies for a trade and hopes that the Kings will trade him before the trade deadline, the Rockets are the team with the greatest ability to provide the highest value return to the Kings. The Rockets' current assets are very rich, which can definitely impress the Kings.
However, whether it is worth for the Rockets to pay so much for Fox is also a matter of widespread debate in the industry. Although Fox is good, he is not a superstar, and at 27 years old, he has basically settled into his game. Will he be the answer for the Rockets' future? Let's keep an eye on this.