NBA Trade Rumors: Massive 8-Player Deal Would Move De'Aaron Fox to Houston

The Sacramento Kings made a huge move this past week, handing head coach Mike Brown his walking papers. It was likely done to placate star point guard De'Aaron Fox. But according to the newest "grumblings" around the NBA, Fox could very well still ask out of Sacramento by the trade deadline just five weeks from now.

REPORT: There are ‘grumblings in NBA circles’ suggesting that De’Aaron Fox will request a trade before the deadline, per @EricPincus.⁰⁰“…The Kings will likely entertain all options… One team stands out as their best potential trade partner: the Houston Rockets.” pic.twitter.com/gXaC1lcbhN
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) December 30, 2024

Per insider Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report:

Grumblings in NBA circles suggest Fox will push for a trade before the February 6 deadline.
The Kings will likely entertain all options… One team stands out as their best potential trade partner: the Houston Rockets.

He then goes on to propose a wild eight-player, four-draft asset trade:

Houston Rockets Recieve:

De'Aaron Fox
Trey Lyles
Doug McDermott

Sacramento Kings Receive:

Reed Sheppard
Cam Whitmore
Jeff Green
Jae'Sean Tate
Jock Landale
2027 first-round pick swap
2028 first-rounder
2030 first-rounder
2031 first-round pick swap
$9.2 million trade exception (Fox)
$2.1 million trade exception (Doug McDermott)

Pincus says that in this scenario, the Kings would have to waive Jae Crowder and Orlando Robinson to open enough roster space for the five incoming players.

He adds that Fox's eligibility for an extension this offseason, which would command a max deal starting at a $51 million per year salary, could be more than the Kings could manage, adding to their openness to find a trade partner.

As for Houston, they've been wanting to add another marquee player to take them to legitimate championship contender status. They've been linked in varying degrees to the likes of Jimmy Butler, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Donovan Mitchell over the past six months (the latter already signed a huge extension with the Cavaliers, but the status of the other two isn't clear yet depending on how their teams fare this season.

Fox would be a huge splash for the Rockets, though they do already have a pretty good leader at point guard in Fred VanVleet. Fox is on another level offensively, however, at 26.3 PPG, scoring 11 more points per game than FVV this season. And the Rockets could decline their team option for 2025-26 on the final year of VanVleet's deal.