De’Aaron Fox is headed to the San Antonio Spurs.
The Sacramento Kings have agreed to commerce their All-Star level guard in a three-team deal on Sunday evening, in accordance with ESPN’s Shams Charania. The transfer additionally sends Chicago Bulls star Zach LaVine to the Kings.
BREAKING: Sacramento is finalizing a commerce to ship De’Aaron Fox to the San Antonio Spurs in a multi-team commerce that strikes Chicago Bulls’ Zach LaVine to the Kings, sources inform ESPN. pic.twitter.com/Ftmo8N4hMj
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 3, 2025
The Kings are additionally sending Jordan McLaughlin to San Antonio within the deal. The Kings will obtain Sidy Cissoko, three future first-round picks and three future second-round picks. The Bulls will obtain Zach Collins, Tre Jones, Kevin Huerter and the rights to their very own 2025 first-round decide, which had been top-10 protected and held by the Spurs.
The primary-round picks the Kings are receiving: 2025 Charlotte Hornets (top-14 protected; turns into 2026 and 2027 second-rounders if not conveyed); 2027 Spurs (unprotected); 2031 Minnesota Timberwolves (unprotected). Sacramento additionally receives the Hornets’ 2025 second-round decide, the Nuggets’ 2028 second-rounder and the rights again to their very own 2028 second-rounder.
Drafted fifth total by Sacramento in 2017, the 27-year-old Fox averaged 21.5 factors (on 47/33/74 capturing splits), 6.1 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 1.4 steals in 33.2 minutes per sport over his eight seasons.
Fox is 2 years faraway from a profession season. Within the 2022-23 marketing campaign, he made his first appearances on each the All-Star and All-NBA rosters, capturing Clutch Participant of the Yr honors alongside the best way. He led the Kings to a 48-win season, ending the franchise’s 17-year playoff drought, earlier than dropping within the first spherical.
The Kings didn’t make the playoffs final season, when Fox’s 26.6 factors per sport marked a profession excessive.
Sacramento began this season with a 13-18 report, which resulted within the firing of current NBA Coach of the Yr Mike Brown. The Kings promoted Doug Christie to the entrance of the bench and promptly gained seven straight video games. They at present personal a 24-24 report and are clinging to the ultimate play-in event spot within the Western Convention.
When retired NBA player-turned-commentator Lou Williams urged {that a} rift between Fox and Brown performed a job within the coach’s firing, Fox fired again on social media, “There was by no means any push again about something. This narrative of us butting heads or me going to administration saying something is bulls***.”
The Kings opened commerce discussions about Fox to the remainder of the league on Tuesday, in accordance with Charania. Fox reportedly listed the Spurs on the prime of his most well-liked locations, and he bought his want. He’s owed $37 million subsequent season and might turn into an unrestricted free agent in the summertime of 2026.
Fox will now get to workforce up with star Victor Wembanyama in San Antonio, the place they’re going to attempt to make a playoff push within the second half of the season.
Kings land Zach LaVine
The second a part of this deal strikes LaVine out of Chicago and reunites him with former teammate DeMar DeRozan.
LaVine, who will flip 30 years outdated on March 10, averaged 24 factors (on 51/45/80 capturing splits), 4.8 rebounds and 4.5 assists per sport for the Bulls this season. His 42 video games performed in 2024-25 are greater than he performed for final season’s 39-win Bulls, as surgical procedure on his proper foot restricted him to 25 video games.
Accidents have been an enormous a part of LaVine’s NBA story. His medical historical past options six season-ending accidents, together with a torn left ACL in his third season. He had a second surgical procedure on his left knee in 2022.
LaVine’s contract has been one other impediment to a commerce in years previous. He signed a five-year, $215 million most contract in 2022, which features a $49 million participant possibility for the 2026-27 marketing campaign.
When wholesome, LaVine is an electrifying scorer. He has averaged 24.6 factors per sport on higher than 60% true capturing over his final seven seasons in Chicago. The one different gamers who’ve met these marks in that timespan: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Stephen Curry, Anthony Davis, Kevin Durant, Joel Embiid, James Harden, Kyrie Irving, LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard, Damian Lillard and Zion Williamson. Good firm.
LaVine’s Bulls have made the fewest playoff appearances amongst these gamers’ groups. LaVine made the playoffs simply as soon as, in 2021-22, when Chicago misplaced in 5 video games to the Milwaukee Bucks within the first spherical. The Bulls at present maintain a 21-29 report, which has them in tenth within the Japanese Convention standings.
LaVine’s protection and playmaking have been roadblocks to superstardom. They’ve additionally been contributing components to the workforce’s lack of postseason success. Groups have been hesitant to soak up his contract and harm historical past consequently, however the Kings have taken that probability. And we’ll quickly discover out if LaVine’s All-Star-level manufacturing can translate to a contender, or if skepticism was warranted.
