Fox seeks a trade, NBA landscape may see major changes

On January 30 , a piece of news shocked the league - Sacramento Kings' All-Star point guard De'Aaron Fox took the initiative to seek a trade. According to ESPN , Fox has clearly expressed his intention to leave the team to the management, and the Kings are willing to listen to offers from various teams and hope to complete the negotiations before the February 7 trade deadline .

Fox is 27 years old and is at the peak of his career. He played 43 games for the Kings this season, averaging 37.2 minutes per game, contributing 25.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, 6.2 assists, shooting 46.8% and 32.4% from three-point range. As a fast defender with both offensive and defensive capabilities, his joining will enhance the backcourt strength of any team and may even change the NBA landscape. Therefore, his trading market has quickly heated up and he has become a target for all teams.

Fox has a close relationship with Brown, and the latter's tactical system is also built around him. However, before the Kings management decided to change the coach, Brown publicly criticized Fox's defensive problems in an interview, which caused him to be caught in a public opinion storm, and the management did not do any public relations for this incident. Fox was dissatisfied with the team's top management, and the Kings' record so far this season has declined compared with the same period last year. Various factors prompted him to make up his mind to leave the team.

In addition, DeRozan's joining has also weakened Fox's core position in the team to a certain extent. Although the Kings still hope to build a lineup around Fox and Sabonis, the All-Star guard seems to have lost confidence in the team's future plans.

In addition to the Spurs, the Lakers, Heat, Nets and Rockets are also paying close attention to Fox's dynamics. The Lakers management hopes to find a top backcourt partner for Anthony Davis to welcome the "post-James era", and Fox is their favorite target. As for the Heat, the team is experiencing Jimmy Butler's trade rumors, and the appearance of Fox may provide them with a new direction for team building. It is worth mentioning that the Heat's core inside player Adebayo and Fox were college teammates, and this friendship may become a key factor in attracting the latter to join.

The Rockets are currently ranked second in the Western Conference. Although the team's goal this season is to move forward with the current lineup, they are also considering how to enhance their competitiveness in the playoffs. Fox's speed and scoring ability can help the Rockets go further in the playoffs, especially his average of 27.4 points per game in the 2023 playoffs, which forced the Warriors into a seven-game game. This ability is exactly what the Rockets need.

Fox's trade rumors are still brewing, and the management of each team is actively evaluating possible trade plans. The Spurs, Lakers, Heat, Nets, Rockets and other teams are all likely to make moves, and the competition is not yet clear. But what is certain is that no matter who he ends up with, it will have an important impact on the league's landscape.

With less than 10 days left before the trade deadline, whether the Kings management will trade Fox immediately or wait until the offseason to make a larger-scale move will be one of the biggest highlights in the next few days. For a team that wants to strengthen its backcourt, this is undoubtedly an opportunity to change its destiny, and Fox's final destination will also determine the direction of the Western Conference.