Spurs acquire Fox, Kings land LaVine in multi-team trade

The Sacramento Kings are in the process of finalizing a trade that will send All-Star guard De'Aaron Fox to the San Antonio Spurs, where he will join Victor Wembanyama, as reported by ESPN on Sunday.

This multi-team trade will also involve Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine moving to the Kings.

Trade discussions regarding Fox reportedly commenced last week after it became evident that the 27-year-old, who has one year remaining on his contract, was not inclined to commit to a long-term future in Sacramento.

The Spurs have emerged as a favored destination for Fox, allowing him to team up with the French sensation Wembanyama, who is currently averaging 24.6 points, 10.9 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and an impressive 4.0 blocks per game.

This season, the Spurs have bolstered their young core, led by Wembanyama, with veteran additions, and the inclusion of Fox could significantly enhance their late-season efforts while also serving as a foundational piece for the coming years.

Fox is currently in his eighth NBA season, all spent with the Kings. He endured five consecutive losing seasons before the Kings reached the playoffs in 2022-23, thereby ending the longest postseason drought in NBA history, which lasted 16 seasons.

However, the Kings were unable to advance past the play-in tournament last season, and following a sluggish start this season, coach Mike Brown was dismissed in December.

This season, Fox is leading the team with an average of 25.0 points per game, while also ranking second in assists and third in rebounds.

In addition to acquiring LaVine from the Bulls, the Kings will also receive 20-year-old French player Sidy Cissoko from the Spurs. The trade will further involve sending Kevin Huerter, Zach Collins, and Tre Jones to the Bulls, along with Jordan McLaughlin moving to the Spurs, as reported by The Athletic.

LaVine, a two-time All-Star, is having a strong season, averaging 24.0 points per game with a shooting percentage of 51.1 from the field. Cissoko, who was selected 44th overall in the 2023 draft by the Spurs, has participated in only 29 NBA games thus far.