By Mark Haynes | OBSERVER Correspondent
On Monday, February 3rd, the Sacramento Kings announced it was De’Aaron Fox’s final day as a member of the organization. In his eighth season, the front office led by General Manager Monte McNair and Wes Wilcox decided to part ways with one of the most beloved Kings players in franchise history when they traded the 27-year-old star to the San Antonio Spurs in a three-team blockbuster trade.
The Kings traded guard Kevin Huerter to the Chicago Bulls in the deal, while Jordan McLaughlin and Fox went to the Spurs. McNair released a statement on the trade around Noon that day.
“De’Aaron has played a pivotal role with our franchise, and we are deeply grateful for everything he did to support the organization on and off the court,” said McNair. “We appreciate Kevin’s many contributions to the team, especially as a key member of the 2023 playoff team. We also thank Jordan for his hard work and commitment during his time with the Kings.”
In return, the Kings received two-time All-Star Zach LaVine (29) and Sidy Cissoko (20), three first-round picks, and three second-round picks.
“As we look to the future, I am excited to welcome Zach to Sacramento,” McNair said. “He is a gifted scorer, and his athleticism will make an impact on both ends of the floor. We also look forward to Sidy joining the Kings.”
When Shams Charania of ESPN reported that the three teams agreed on this trade, Sacramento fans went into a frenzy. The reaction was similar to when fans discovered former coach Mike Brown was terminated as head coach after starting this season 13-18. But since then, that noise has quieted as the Kings began winning games under interim head coach Doug Christie, who is 12-6 going into Wednesday’s game. The team hopes to have the same outcome when acquiring LaVine.
This season, LaVine is one of four players averaging 24.0 points or more while shooting 50.0% from the field and 40.0% from 3-point range with a true shooting percentage of 60.0% or higher. During the 2024-25 season, LaVine ranks fifth in 3-point shooting percentage and holds the highest field goal percentage from behind the arc among players with at least 100 3-pointers made this season.
LaVine’s style of play makes him a good fit for the Kings. However, what worries people the most is whether the 29-year-old can stay healthy for the duration of his contract that expires after the 2026-27 season. He tore his ACL in 2017, which forced him to miss the remainder of the season, and last year, a foot injury restricted him to only appearing in 25 games.
Only time will reveal the path of the Kings’ future. More transactions could come even after the February 6th trade deadline, or the front office can decide to stay put if they feel they’ve maximized their roster for the season. One thing that is certain about the addition of LaVine is that Kings fans can look forward to continuing an exciting brand of basketball. The high-flying sharpshooter is bound to electrify the crowd in the Golden 1 Center.
So it’s farewell to Fox, Huerter, and McLaughlin. A season that started with plans of Fox leading the Kings back to the NBA Playoffs as the franchise player continues with the possibility of running into Fox this postseason in a different uniform, which would add another layer to an already eventful season.