The Sacramento Kings have failed to reach the NBA Playoffs for 15 seasons already, the longest active drought in the league. Their roster, coaches, and front office have drastically changed already, but the skid is still ongoing for the unfortunate franchise. In their 2021-22 campaign, the Kings are off to a 6-9 start, and one of the main reasons for their struggles is the subpar performance of their cornerstone De'Aaron Fox.
Fox's point production has plummeted to only 20.3 points per game, compared to 25.2 last season, while his efficiency from the field and behind the arc needs a ton of improvement as well. Moreover, his defense has been atrocious, as guards just trot down the lane and score easy baskets against him. As the leader and point guard of the team, he must set an example and have a relentless attitude on both ends of the court.
The Kings, however, may also need to trade him to acquire terrific pieces in return and salvage their campaign.
Three possible destinations for De'Aaron Fox
Philadelphia 76ers
With Ben Simmons still having trouble dealing with the Sixers, the easiest trade the Kings could execute is convince general manager Daryl Morey to give them Simmons for a package centered around Fox. It will be tough for Morey to be convinced with just Fox alone, but Sacramento can add disgruntled young forward Marvin Bagley or a couple of future draft picks in the mix.
The Sixers have recently bared their interest on 30 players that they would get for Simmons, and Fox might just be one of them because his career is still on an upward trend at just 23 years old. Fox will also complement Sixers superstar Joel Embiid as they could run effective pick-and-rolls and pick-and-pops for their offense. With Embiid on the bench, Fox could also lead the charge with the second unit.
New Orleans Pelicans
The extended absence of Zion Williamson and the several missed games of Brandon Ingram has caused the Pelicans to slip all the way to 14th place in the Western Conference with a 2-14 record. They made a couple of moves in the offseason, but losing Lonzo Ball as their starting point guard has been a glaring weakness.
Fox could be acquired by the Pelicans by trading away Jonas Valanciunas as his value is really at a top-notch level right now. Valanciunas may have a difficult time complementing with the game of Williamson, while the Kings need an interior presence to aid Richaun Holmes. The Pelicans could include the expiring deal of Tomas Satoransky along with some of the first round picks they have in their pocket to make the deal successful.
With Valanciunas' departure, Jaxson Hayes will have ample opportunities to prove himself for the Pelicans, while the Big Three of Fox, Ingram, and Williamson can wreak havoc in the next few years.
Boston Celtics
Putting Fox in a team that has Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown may seem an unideal fit with three ball-dominant individuals. However, the Celtics are in dire need of a facilitator that can run the offense because their execution has been horrendous this season. With Marcus Smart signing an extension in the offseason, he will only be eligible to be traded in January, so this deal cannot be executed yet right now.
Putting Smart, Robert Williams III, and some draft picks may convince the Kings enough for a change of scenery in their organization. Boston could also include either Romeo Langford or Aaron Nesmith to further convince the Kings front office to pull the trigger. If Fox somehow finds his rhythm and flourishes under the system of coach Ime Udoka, the Celtics could make some noise in the NBA Playoffs. Nevertheless, Fox must still enhance his defensive awareness because that is the calling card of the Celtics.
Trading De'Aaron Fox with five years still remaining on his contract seems insurmountable, but some observers have expressed doubts on the Kings' backcourt of Fox and Tyrese Haliburton for the future of the squad. Both have the highest value in the team, but Fox's value seems to be higher, and the Kings could receive an enticing package of picks and young assets from a team that is high on his potential.
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