Kings Trade De'Aaron Fox To Spurs For Zach LaVine In Major NBA Deal

In a significant NBA trade, the San Antonio Spurs are finalising a deal to acquire De'Aaron Fox from the Sacramento Kings. This multi-team trade also involves the Chicago Bulls, who will receive Zach LaVine from the Kings. ESPN reports that seven players are part of this transaction. The Bulls will also gain Kevin Huerter from Sacramento and Zach Collins and Tre Jones from the Spurs.

The Kings will receive Sidy Cissoko from the Spurs and send Jordan McLaughlin to San Antonio. Additionally, Sacramento will obtain three first-round and three second-round draft picks in exchange for Fox. Fox, an All-Star in 2022-23, played a crucial role in ending Sacramento's 16-year playoff drought. However, his future with the team became uncertain after declining a three-year extension worth $165 million last October.

Fox has been with Sacramento since being drafted fifth overall in 2017. His move to San Antonio pairs him with Victor Wembanyama, the 2023-24 NBA Rookie of the Year. Since 2020-21, Fox has averaged 25.1 points, 6.1 assists, and 1.5 steals per game.

Sacramento gains an experienced scorer in LaVine, who has averaged 24.8 points per game since 2019-20. This season, he is averaging 24 points over 42 games while shooting a career-high 44.6% from beyond the arc. LaVine is under contract for next season with an option for 2026-27.

LaVine reunites with former teammate DeMar DeRozan in Sacramento; they played together for three seasons in Chicago before DeRozan was traded to the Kings last July.

Bulls' New Additions

The Bulls will rely on Huerter's shooting skills despite his recent struggles; he is averaging career lows this season but has a career average of 37.5% from three-point range. Collins contributed as a role player for San Antonio over two seasons but saw reduced playing time due to Wembanyama's rise.

This season, Collins averages just under five points and plays less than twelve minutes per game. Jones started many games for San Antonio during their rebuilding phase but now finds himself in a backup role.

Recent Trades Shake Up Western Conference

This trade follows another major transaction involving Western Conference teams: Dallas Mavericks traded Luka Doncic to Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis just two days ago.

The Spurs are sending several draft picks to Sacramento: Charlotte Hornets' lottery-protected first-round pick for 2025 along with their own first-rounders for both 2027 and one acquired from Minnesota Timberwolves for 2031.