The Sacramento Kings are at a tipping point of their season, with pressuring mounting on the players, the coaches, and, well, everybody. And that pressure is amping up, as De’Aaron Fox makes comments on podcasts about wanting to see the Kings are headed in the right direction before signing an extension. Now The Athletic’s Sam Amick reports that Fox’s agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports, is reportedly visiting the Kings front office asking the same question we all have been asking:
League sources say Paul — who sat next to Fox’s wife, Recee, throughout the 113-100 loss that dropped the Kings to 13-15 and 12th in the West — was in Sacramento to meet with general manager Monte McNair and assistant general manager Wes Wilcox before the game. The discussion, league and team sources said, was focused on an existential question that needs to be answered if this partnership that began eight seasons ago between Fox and the Kings is going to continue long term.
What’s the plan here?
As should be expected, other teams are keeping close tabs on our failings, and eyeing the superstar that some Kings fans insist no smart team would actually want:
Meanwhile, rival executives are monitoring the Fox situation closely and league sources say one team in particular — the San Antonio Spurs — is positioning itself to pursue the Houston native as a possible partner for Victor Wembanyama, should Fox become available. Barring a significant Kings turnaround, others are surely close behind.
This comes on the heels of a report from Jake Fischer that teams are closely watching to see if Malik Monk come available.
The vultures can smell impending death and are eager to extract what they can from the carcass.
Amick goes on to report that Vivek Ranadive does not currently appear poised to fire anyone. Amick follows that sentence by reminding readers that Monte McNair and Mike Brown are both on new extensions. Amick puts these two sentences alone in their own paragraph but falls short of outright stating that Vivek is too cheap to fire someone he owes several more years of money to.
The article also says the front office is aware that the roster needs upgrading:
There are some familiar names who appear to be back on their radar, league sources said. Among them: Portland’s Jerami Grant, Utah’s John Collins or Washington’s Jonas Valančiūnas and Kyle Kuzma. Brooklyn’s Cam Johnson is known to be of significant interest, as is — to a lesser degree — the Nets’ Dorian Finney-Smith. The notion of adding a high-profile player like Zach LaVine (Chicago) or Brandon Ingram (New Orleans) is believed to be very unlikely, but the Kings have made a habit during the McNair-Wilcox era of exploring any and all possibilities that might improve the team, even if they don’t appear to make sense at first glance.
Good to know the Kings are aware of the upgrades that have been needed for the last two years. Can’t wait to hear who they almost traded for in a couple months.
Fox forcing a trade may just be a blessing in disguise for this franchise and its future.
Time for change. If he volunteers first use him to get what we need in return. He has about a year of fluffing his own statistics while they shop him around. Meanwhile he hopes they do not send him to DC or Detroit.
The smell reached Amsterdam a few weeks ago.
You have to have really heavily coloured purple and black glasses not to have seen the writing on the wall.
Blow it up.
Indeed, blow it up!!!!
I still disagree with blowing it up. I’d like the team to improve the depth by adding wings. That’s been said ever since the trade for Sabonis. The only way Fox and Sabonis are maximized it by building around them to provide defense, spacing, and rim protection. I don’t want to blow up the best team we’ve had in 20 years before the team first does the obvious this to support the current core.
In a perfect world I’d agree with you. Go get some solid wings with length that are plus defenders, but I don’t see how Monte does that without leveraging future picks and/or including a guy like Keegan.
As a hypothetical, lets say Herb Jones, who’d be an ideal fit, becomes available. How do the Kings pull that off? Huerter and a future 1st? Do the Pels say yes to that?
Herb Jones would cost a lot more than that, I expect. Pels aren’t trading him anyway.
But my hot take is that you have to, within reason, be willing to use future assets to improve this team. You can’t say “the Kings can’t trade future firsts, because what if they fail”. There’s always risk. Good teams take risks. Teams like Brooklyn and Houston traded a ton of future assets, failed, and managed to get those assets back. A good front office can make moves. That’s the issue.
Monte needs to make good moves to improve this team. If he can’t, then I’m not trusting him to trade Fox.
Of the rumored names like Cam Johnson, Jerami Grant, or (cringe) Kyle Kuzma, do you think any of them are needle movers, because I’m just not seeing it.
I think Grant and Kuzma actually move the needle backwards . Cam a slight tick forward .
Cam is Huerter with a different name.
Laughably wrong. Cam is a better shooter, finisher, and not a bitch.
Laughable and lacking in decency.
I think Grant as a player is exactly the type of guy the Kings could use, but his contract makes him hard to acquire. Just a lot of salary to match, and I think to give Portland what they need you probably would have to get a third team.
Of the names that are out there, I like Collins best. I wish the Kings had gotten him from Atlanta when they were giving him away. But I think he’d help the Kings. Hard to trade with Ainge though.
Another name I haven’t seen connected to the Kings but who I think is available and that I like is DeAndre Hunter. He’s had injury issues, but is 27, under contract for two more years after this, and is a really good 3 and D wing with good size.
Jerami Grant would be yet another very poor move. He’s a 4 who is averaging 3.7 rebounds a game and his career average is 4. And he’s soft on defense. Those are our biggest needs. Absolute hell no to Jerami Grant!
John Collins is the only one who checks the boxes. Shooting, size, defense, rebounding, spacing, etc. And he’s the same age as Fox.
Who cares how good this team is relative to 20 years of shitshow? What matters is if how good this team is relative to its current competition.
Even with a decent PF this team will very likely have a hard time getting out of the first round. Will that satisfy you? Fox?
I think great teams can be built without blowing it up when you don’t find immediate success. To be clear, trading Fox shouldn’t be off the table. But it shouldn’t be the main goal right now either unless he asks for it.
This team has so many close losses this year, they could easily be 3-4 games better with a couple lucky bounces. And I know that the what-if game can cut both ways. But we wouldn’t be talking about blowing this team up at 16-12. Just three of those close games go the other way and the Kings are currently tied for 5th. The margin for error is slim, but it’s the same for every team.
Changes should be made, but I can’t get on board with blowing it up and assuming this season is a lost cause. It’s too early for that.
Yes, the Kings are not title contenders right now and they are not one trade away from becoming contenders. But most contenders don’t become contenders with a single trade. The Mavs were spiraling last season after a hot start and had fallen to 8th. They made some good moves to support their stars and suddenly made a surprise Finals run. By the way, those depth trades they made were guys that the Kings could have and should have been chasing.
Improving a team midseason is not the impossible task the Kings have conditioned us to think it is.
The mavs? Are you serious? They were in the conference finals the year before missing the playoffs, so I think they can expect some success with roster improvements.
You people are constantly yammering about a 3nD wing who would save this but but we have Keegan and we had Barnes. There were moments of success this season but aint no way that John Collins is going to take this team deep in the playoffs + a Ainge scam or Grants contract would be the final nail in the coffin for this organization. The Fox/Sabonis and Brown era is over and I am not clapping for an encore.
That ship has sailed Greg. The best team we’ve had in 20 years is one of the worst teams in the western conference. I said it in the preseason and got a nice lecturing from you about how it was only the preseason but, here we are!
Agreed, we don’t want to jump the gun on blowing it up and this is the best mix of good players we’ve had in years. But we do need to ask how long should we hold on? And do they realistically have any shot of adding good players around sabonis and Fox? If not, Fox and Sabonis should net 3 first rounders apiece.
Tried to share a Simpsons vulture gif. It failed. That was probably a better comment anyway.
I’d say start trading players for assets, but I don’t know that I believe the front office won’t waste the picks that they get. It really is amazing how quickly things can change for the worse.
Perhaps Monte has been drafting for win now type players, hence the upper classmen with lower ceilings. If a rebuild/blowup were to take place, could his drafting style change to upside prospects?
If the Kings were a normal functioning franchise:
Kings get: Castle, Sochan, Collins, Keldon Johnson, a first round pick, and pick swap given back
Spurs get: Fox, Huerter, Lyles
———————————————————–
In reality we are the Kangz:
Kings get Kuzma and Valanciunas
Wiz get: Huerter, Lyles….and Keegan
…Fox then demands a trade
Yep, this sounds about right.
There is no chance that can get this much for fox lol This is delusional. They’re not going to give away the guy they just drafted at four for Fox.
What does it matter they drafted him at #4?
I seem to remember the Lakers trading away two guys they drafted at #2 (Ingram and Ball) plus Josh Hart, 3 first round picks and pick swap for Anthony Davis. That’s nearly double to what my asinine trade idea is.
Fox is no Anthony Davis. He’s closer to a Cousins and the only thing we got there was Buddy and a pick.
Buddy was the #6 pick in a better draft. Is Castle at #4 in a bad draft worth that much more? I feel like we are splitting hairs here.
Buddy was an older rookie who the Pelicans correctly realized didn’t have much potential beyond a shooter. Castle has a lot more potential and it’s someone the Spurs look at as a building block for their team.
I don’t think the kings are gonna get much value for Fox, especially if his agent starts to put pressure and force him to certain teams.
And I certainly don’t think that the kings value potential players and future picks because Vivek has no long term vision.
Well if the current market is any indication with trades like the Nets getting 5 first round picks for Mikal Bridges, or Minny getting Randle, DiVincenzo and a first round pick for KAT, or Utah getting 3 first round picks, 3 pick swaps, Lauri and Colin Sexton for Mitchell, then I think my butt-pulled idea for Fox is more realistic than one pick and a rookie (Buddy) scenario. Hell, the Spurs themselves got 3 first round picks and a pick swap for Dejounte Murray.
All of the teams giving up multiple first round picks in trades are already winning. They are making moves trying to win a championship. They are not focused on the draft as the life blood of their organization. The teams giving up talent for multiple first round picks are losing and selling their soul for the future picks.
I think Fox is closer to Bradley Beal in his prime. Kings will ne able to get at least 2 first rounders for him and young assets. Cmon, you’re talking a Top 5 pg.
Cousins was a known locker room cancer who happened to be a stat stuffer. Completely different situation.
I disagree. Fox’s attitude the other night on court looked cancerous. He was excessively chatty, distracted, arguing with the officials too much, and looked out of focus. This was specifically highlighted during about a 3 minute span where he had 2-3 turnovers and even passed the ball to the ref. I think Keegan has been displaying a lack of confidence lately in his shooting and took a few ill-advised shots, but it doesn’t help that perhaps attitude of other players has been undermining his confidence. Fox was whining to him at least once after Murray’s midrange mistake, ironically, after Fox had made several on court mistakes himself. With the exception of an occasional run to the rim, he has looked really soft lately. Keegan has been second guessing his decision making. He needs to be pulled as a starter – yes – but is there possibly a cancer at work which has eroded the confidence of Murray and maybe even Huerter? Fox is starting to look exactly like Cousins at times. However, it might not be exclusively his fault. This franchise has shown a pattern of expecting too much from their marquee player, catering to their egos, and then not knowing when its time to let them go.
Fox is a stat stuffer that is a cancer to winning basketball. Very likeable guy though.
I think you ask for more than one pick from the Spurs. They have 4 first rounders next year.
I would ask for Castle, Sochan, Vassell and at least 2
firsts
I like Castle and Sochan, but they absolutely do not provide spacing. Add them in with DeRozan and the current underperformed 3pt shooters already on the roster, and you have a team that is completely incapable of hitting 3s.
Kings get more size, which is nice. Just not really a modern team when considering spacing.
Very true. Ideally you’d ask for Vassell, but I don’t think the Spurs would include him.
Johnson also hasn’t shot the 3 well. I don’t think the Spurs have the type of players the Kings need. Draft assets, yes. Players, not so much.
That’s the whole issue. If the Kings now scramble to improve the roster short-term and use assets to do so, they are still faced with the realistic chance that Fox leaves.
And you can bet your ass that his agent will make public a list of teams that can give him a shot at All-NBA and a Supermax, and severely depresss his trade value.
You should trade him sooner rather than later.
Another trade.
Fox to the Spurs for Castle, Johnson, Sochan and 2 firsts.
Huerter, Lyles C. Jones, Ellis and a first for Collins and Kessler.
Starters: Castle, Monk, Murray, Collins, Sabonis.
Backups: Castle, Johnson, Derozan, Sochan and Kessler.
These are all sideways moves as the DDR move was and doesn’t increase this core’s cieling by much, if at all at this point.
Trade Fox now and then sell other pieces going into the trade deadline.
Something structured around AdamSite’s proposal for a Fox trade is more than fair for both sides:
Kings get: Castle, Sochan, Collins, Keldon Johnson, a first round pick, and pick swap given back
Spurs get: Fox, Huerter, Lyles
Make it happen captain.
no real news here. sorry.
doesn’t add anything additional to what Fox published on the Draymond Green podcast
I’d say Fox’s agent sitting courtside after meeting with Monte is significant.
game at 3:00 today
You must have clicked the wrong site. Here is a link if you only want news: https://www.nba.com/news
Wowsers
Must be some valuable news there.
Or Kings go on 3 game win streak and Vivek and co think everything is fine. The Huerter pick owed to Atl is top 10 or top 12 protected? My fear is Kings miss it by one, give up the pick, Atl drafts a stud, and Kings still don’t even make the play-in.
That is exactly how this season is trending, which could be followed by Fox asking out.
Kings stuckin the mid range as always. There’s not much of a wrong answer available, you either take a gamble on a trade to improve team now and if it fails then you blow it up in the off-season or you blow it up now. The only mistake you could make which is what we always do, is keep everything about the same and keep in the mediocre to a little above average range.
Spurs make Sense since they have 4 first rounders in 25. That would fill a lot of needs
Houston also makes sense. With fewer picks but a boatload of young assets: Sheppard, Whitmore,
‘Smith, Eason, Brooks
I agree Fox forcing his way out would be a blessing for the Kings.
Fans would love a proper rebuild. Arena would be full every night and the team will be fun to watch all these young new prospects.
Don’t think Brown will like it or survive.Has zero experience coaching a start up.
Except for his experience as an assistant on young teams and his experience as head coach on rebuilding teams, you’re correct. If you completely ignore reality, then he has zero experience coaching a startup.
Cleveland. Lebron.
I hope what is happening is Rich Paul is putting heat on the front office and owner to make a freaking move to upgrade the roster.
Brown calling out Fox for a while now appears to be a ploy to challenge him while also trying to send a message that he isn’t coachable and isn’t willing to do what it takes to lead a team (maybe?).
Or that nothing is Brown’s fault or responsibility . Seems a recurring theme .
That too.
They don’t make sense at any glance. The front office has been in Sacramento for four years and the Kings are 13-15. Let’s take DeRozan as the latest example: That change doesn’t make sense at second glance either.
Is there a guy there who gets the Kings to the second round of the playoffs? I’m not saying there isn’t, but it seems unlikely.
Acquiring this guy should be fireable. If you plugged him in at zero salary today, without moving anyone on the roster, the team would be worse, because he would be taking usage from better players.
Fireable. Are we trying to collect every ISO guard in the NBA who can’t play defense?
Maybe not fireable, but he hasn’t played 65 games in a season since the iPhone 8 came out. (Amick mentioned that LaVine and Ingram are unlikely.)
I don’t actually believe this. Murray should be moved for an upgrade if you can make it work. Yes, Keegan’s value is low, but you’re not getting much for Kevin Huerter (a shooter who can’t shoot) and Trey Lyles (decent bench shooter when healthy, which he isn’t.)
If you’re going to keep building around this roster, you have to stop being afraid of your own shadow and look at trading some of your top four (five?) players for potential upgrades. There’s no way they’re going to start at dealing Kevin Huerter and Trey Lyles with draft picks (unless there are a LOT of them) and actually improve this team enough to become a real contender.
Be aggressive or rebuild. Trying to “add depth” is going to result in selling Fox at pennies on the dollar at the next trade deadline.
I think one way to correct a lot of wrong is to move DDR for reliable wing or paint defense. Is there a team out there that needs reliable scoring? My first thought was Orlando who has all kinds of defense but has trouble scoring. DDR for Wendell Carter Jr and Gary Harris works. Carter Jr. could potentially work next to Sabonis and it slides Keegan back to the 3. It ain’t great, but it could work. Also, DDR for Johnathan Issac works straight up (once January 5th hits).
Oh, who am I kidding. Monte isn’t going to trade DDR and there likely isn’t a market for him.
Give Klutch (I mean Fox) what they want! ESPN Trade machine says you could do Fox for Castle, Sochan and Collins. Why complicate it? The Huerter and Lyles stuff reminds me of how often Monte just does trades to get rid of people. Barnes, Mitchell, Buddy, every 2nd rounder. If the 2 and 4 positions are revitalized, you don’t need a big haul for Huerter and Lyles. Which is good, because you’re not getting one. Next step is undoing the DeRozan mistake. I couldn’t get a DeAngelo Russell expiring contract for DeRozan to work on ESPN, but wouldn’t the Lakers be desperate enough to work something out with a third team? Then just cut Russell. Sochan and Castle would be great compliments to Sabonis, Murray, and Monk. Young, physical, talented. Murray back to the 3, where he belongs. Then work on the bench. Add these to the trades that won’t happen. We can dream though.
How about Fox for Tyrese Haliburton?
I had this thought last night and laughed to myself for a couple minutes about it. The takes from all sides would be hilarious.
Hearing those hot takes would be FAR more entertaining than whatever is happening inside Golden1 Center these days.
FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS HOLY, BLOW THIS DUMPSTER FIRE UP AND REBUILD FOR REAL FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER!!!
They won’t because they’re incompetent but it’s what any sane organization would do. They broke the playoff drought already do just do the right thing.
Fox has been here for eight years. For eight years this team has built around him. No matter who they put next to him the same results show up. Fox has great individual statistics. The team does not win.
Sabonis is a player to be built around. Sabonis will and does improve a team with leadership and high level team basketball.
Fox is leaving. Get something for him in return to build around Sabonis.
The Fox era has failed and it is time to end it.
Keep Monk as the PG/Lead Guard and bring in a real 2-way SG with size. Let Monk and Sabonis run the offense and see what happens
Fox is a two that plays the point so he can have the ball more. Monk is not a point guard. We get a point guard that can run an offense and play consistent defense and a good four. Maybe even a back up center in the deal as well?
The entire team is guards that are supposedly “long” and “make up for size with quickness”. Not true.
Fox has been through 4 coaches and 2 GMs.
Previous GM passed on Luca due to Fox being here. Current GM has traded 4 first round picks to try to build around him.
This has all resulted in one first round playoff appearance in 8 years.
It is not changing in the next eight years because Fox stays here.
Do you let fox play today?!
Read Amick’s article and I enjoyed it. It is great to see him succeed and reach the audience he has.
Thinking about Rich Paul being here to meet with the Kings GM and his minion. I do not know for sure but I can assume that Paul represents some players that would greatly help this team win. This is purely speculation but I am fairly sure that any one of those players has been told by Paul not to play in Sacramento if they are given the choice.
Paul and Fox win no matter what in this situation. The Kings are simply along for the ride hoping they do not get driven into the concrete wall.
What is not speculation is that SA has become a national writer that is dependably good for 2 to 3 drive-bys a year on the Kings. Used to like his writing, but is now predictable and tired.
True KaNGz fans hate success and will always trash anyone who has done well.
more “pure speculation…”
Can we get an investigative report on the answer to, “What’s the plan here?”
Please not Jerami Grant. He would not do anything to help with the rebounding and defensive issues. That would be a horrible trade, especially because we would be giving up picks for him too.
Always blow it up a year too early instead of a year too late. If the Kings think it gonna go that way then do it now.
Have lots of thoughts and feelings. I will say that this is a sad ending to what seemed two years ago a promising core. That said the front office has to act with pragmatism and likelihood. This team likely can’t make the trades or additions to see them win a playoff series, and in even such a hypothetical I doubt that changes Fox’s calculus. I also think the inherit questions of if Fox can be that franchise player linger regardless. Lets say we can offer the boat i’m not sure the capology and his play really assure us all that different outcomes in the standings. I bring that up yes only in lieu of the noise but its regardless still relevant.
The signs point to an exit, the moment to extract maximum leverage is now and any other approach will likely end in a worse outcome. I think the Kings could make a deal and keep a similar win output, while also garnering a prospect or two and future assets. If they want to fetch VanVleet with the addition of some of the rockets youth and picks I wouldn’t scoff. I’m not sure how much worse we’d be despite having an eye on the future.
On the other hand if this becomes the catalyst to a firesale I think we could build one of the best grounds for an actual rebuild in the NBA considering our talent and other teams cycles. A lot of the common tankers are trying to leverage to respectable or just arent able to be awful. Generally most in the league are seeking being competitive. Selling the likes of Domas, DeRozan, Monk in the coming year or two could set up a prospect pool and pool of assets not all that comparable.
Monte would be wise to seek a Texas bid off. The most clear fits with grounds on decent returns are the Spurs and Rockets. Fox im sure would be open to either and thus both parties would have some assurance in an extension. I could see both teams being aggressive to get something done. Where that leaves the rest of the roster im not sure but since my early days on Sactown Royalty I have argued more often than not the benefits of an intentional true teardown. Sadly its seeming that’s the likely best path, but the position to which they are in to build the foundation in that is so much better considering the talent. Objectively if we like it or not that’s where we are.
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