The Sacramento Kings have entered the final days before the 2025 NBA trade deadline with all eyes on their front office. In what can only be described as a shocking twist of fate, the Kings could end up firing their head coach and trading their franchise player in the same season.
Thankfully, if the Kings opt to trade All-NBA point guard De'Aaron Fox, then they won't necessarily be resigning themselves to a rebuild.
More often than not, a team that trades its franchise player is bidding farewell to performing at a competitive level. It's a reality that many have encountered, but Sacramento has a unique opportunity to position itself for a step forward with the right Fox trade—a legitimate possibility.
According to Sam Amick of The Athletic, more than half of the teams in the NBA have reached out to express interest in acquiring Fox.
"Per league sources, the Kings continue to navigate a flurry of interest that has come their way as a result of the revelation. One league source indicated that more than half the teams in the NBA have inquired."
If that proves to be the case, then the Kings could realistically circumvent the rebuilding stage and go right into a retooling that enables them to continue to play at a postseason-caliber level.
De'Aaron Fox has 15+ suitors, enabling Kings to retool rather than rebuild
The obvious context is that losing Fox will leave a considerable void for Sacramento to fill. Teams that trade away an All-NBA player rarely find immediate commiserate value, as there simply aren't many players with that level of talent in the Association.
In saying that, Sacramento boasts a roster with intriguing short-term and long-term quality, and could round the unit into form with the right return.
Even with Fox heading out, Sacramento would potentially boast a roster that includes DeMar DeRozan, Keon Ellis, Malik Monk, Keegan Murray, and Domantas Sabonis. That's a strong core of players that includes an All-NBA big in Sabonis and a rejuvenated shot creator in DeRozan.
It also features three players averaging upward of 18.0 points per game, a potentially elite wing defender in Ellis, and a promising forward in Murray.
If at least 16 teams are interested in trading for Fox, then perhaps the Kings could acquire more than extensive future draft compensation. They may be able to field a trade offer that includes the right veteran to bridge the gap between Fox and the Kings' new generation, if not multiple quality players.
Sacramento may not be able to immediately contend, but it could improve its depth and build a balanced roster that's closer to competing than one might've previously presumed.
It remains possible that the Kings will see a sharp decline in quality after trading Fox, even if they are 11-4 over their past 15 games. One simply can't help but envision a scenario in which a competitive market enables Sacramento to build for the now and the future simultaneously.
It's currently unclear what the Kings will be offered or what they might accept, but trading Fox doesn't need to mark the end of a fruitful era.