Fox is averaging 25.2 points, five rebounds and 6.2 assists per game, and he remains utterly dynamic with the ball in his hands as one of the fastest guards in the league. However, over the last three years, he’s taken an arguably bigger leap by showcasing the ability to slow down and play at pace.
He’s more efficient and economical with his decision-making. He continues to get to the free-throw line at a high level and makes his shots on the interior with a great floater game as well as the ability to turn the corner on rim protectors. He’s one of those players who doesn’t need a ball screen to get paint touches but is also elite with a ball screen because he possesses a three-level scoring arsenal. His 3-point shot comes and goes, and it’s what teams feel comfortable giving up when he’s on the attack. However, he has hit 35.4 percent of his seven 3-point attempts per game over the last year and a half.
Fox remains a borderline All-Star even in a loaded Western Conference. He’s a top-30 player in the league, and teams would love to acquire him. The Kings also would love to keep him. Will they be willing to trade him before the deadline and upend what has quickly been a turnaround season since they fired Mike Brown as coach and inserted Doug Christie into the role?
Sacramento is 24-22, firmly in the Play-In Tournament picture and just two games out of the No. 6 seed in the West. However, the Kings have a tough schedule the rest of the way. Their opponents’ winning percentage the rest of the year is 50.9 percent, which is eighth-highest in the league. Also, 20 of their remaining 36 games are on the road.
The Kings need to balance how much they’re winning, how much more positive things look under Christie and what they think their ceiling is this year with their future contract situation, Fox’s value in a trade, the fact that Fox’s trade value drops in the offseason (teams acquiring him now would get two postseason runs with Fox, not just one) and how much harder their schedule gets.
Who will offer a massive package of assets for Fox if he’s already indicating where he wants to end up long term, as has been noted throughout all of the reporting? The San Antonio Spurs have long been seen league-wide as the most likely destination, but what other teams could get involved?
If Fox gets dealt before the deadline, the Spurs seem like the most likely team, but if this gets to the offseason, you never know what could happen. With the help of Spotrac’s trade machine, I’ve dug into a few potential trade-deadline deals on Fox.
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