De’Aaron Fox – Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings have missed the playoffs for 15 consecutive seasons and if they stand pat at the trade deadline, they will be missing the playoffs for a 16th consecutive season. Maybe they will miss the playoffs anyways if they make a move, but at 16-26 on the season, now is the time for this franchise to pull-the-trigger on a huge move.
At this point, what do the Kings really have to lose?
Ben Simmons is the one big fish that they have been linked to ever since the offseason and management cannot seem to get their eyes off of him. Something about Simmons is extremely appealing to the Kings, but the 76ers are not just going to give him up for nothing.
They do not want Harrison Barnes, they do not want Buddy Hield and they do not want Marvin Bagley III. So who do the 76ers actually want from the Kings?
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: 3 Teams Facing Most Questions As NBA Trade Deadline Nears
If Sacramento is to have any shot at getting Ben Simmons, they may have to offer up Tyrese Haliburton and better yet, De’Aaron Fox.
Trading De’Aaron Fox is something that the Kings have been unwilling to do, but Sam Amick of The Athletic recently stated in an article that “no player is off the table” in potential trade talks for Ben Simmons.
Whether or not the Kings actually offer up De’Aaron Fox in a trade is a mystery, but they absolutely should not be wanting to trade the young guard. At only 24-years-old, Fox is one of the fastest guards in the entire league and is currently averaging over 20 points per game for the third straight season.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: 3 Teams Facing Most Questions As NBA Trade Deadline Nears
He is the young leader of this Sacramento franchise and without him, they would not even be close to being in the playoff picture. Just 0.5 game back from the Spurs for the 10-seed out West right now, the Kings’ playoff hopes are very much alive with the team they have right now because of the play-in tournament.
Maybe going after Ben Simmons is a better long-term move than keeping De’Aaron Fox around long-term, but Fox is certainly not the problem with this team right now.
Verdict: Keep
