Who should Sacramento Kings target in De’Aaron Fox trade talks with San Antonio Spurs?
De’Aaron Fox’s days in Sacramento could be numbered.
The Kings have reportedly opened discussions for their All-Star guard ahead of the Feb. 6 NBA trade deadline. The San Antonio Spurs have been rumored as a preferred destination for Fox with significant mutual interest from both sides.
The Spurs have a nice assortment of young talent and draft assets with eight first-round picks over the next three years. Kings owner Vivek Ranadive, general manager Monte McNair and assistant general manager Wes Wilcox will expect a big haul for Fox, who is entering his prime as one of the best young point guards in the league.
The Kings will field offers from multiple teams. A multi-team trade is a possibility with players coming or going to multiple teams, but the Spurs might have a strong enough war chest to make a conventional deal without involving other teams. Those talks will likely involve some combination of first-round draft picks and young players, including rookie guard Stephon Castle, fifth-year guard Devin Vassell and third-year forward Jeremy Sochan.
The Spurs can meet trade parameters for Fox’s $34.8 million contract by including Vassell ($29.3 million) and either Castle ($9.1 million) or Sochan ($5.6 million) in the deal. The Kings would have to throw in another player – and maybe settle for less draft compensation – if they want to acquire all three of those players from San Antonio.
Here’s a closer look at the players and picks the Kings could obtain in a trade with the Spurs with players listed by position, height, weight and age.
Stephon Castle
G | 6-6 | 215 | 20
Castle came out of UConn as the No. 4 pick in June’s NBA draft. One of the leading candidates for Rookie of the Year, he is averaging 11.7 points and 3.6 assists while shooting 40% from the field and 25.9% from 3-point range.
Castle has a 6-9 wingspan and a reputation as a versatile perimeter defender who can navigate screens and stick to his man.
He is in the first year of a four-year, $41.4 million rookie deal.
Devin Vassell
SG | 6-5 | 205 | 24
The Spurs selected Vassell out of Florida State with the 11th overall pick in the 2020 draft. With a 6-10 wingspan, he was viewed as one of the best and most athletic defenders in his draft class with elite 3-and-D potential.
Vassell averaged 18.5 points in 2022-23 and 19.5 points last season. His average has dipped to 16.2 points this season, but he is shooting 38.2% from 3-point range, slightly above his career average of 37%.
Vassell is in the first year of a five-year, $135 million contract with an average salary of $27 million.
Jeremy Sochan
F | 6-8 | 230 | 21
Sochan came out of Baylor as the No. 9 pick in the 2022 draft. His scoring and rebounding numbers have improved all three seasons, from 11.0 points and 5.3 rebounds as a rookie to 12.9 points and 7.9 rebounds this season.
Sochan wouldn’t offer much in the way of 3-point shooting, hitting just 30% on 1.7 attempts per game, but he is a rangy and versatile defender with quickness, athleticism and a 7-foot wingspan.
He is in the second year of a four-year, $23 million contract with club options each of the next two season.
Draft picks
The Spurs are loaded with draft assets. They have eight first-round picks and nine second-round picks over the next three years.
In this year’s draft, the Spurs have their own pick, an unprotected pick from the Atlanta Hawks, a 1-10 protected pick from the Chicago Bulls and a 1-14 protected pick from the Charlotte Hornets.
In 2026, the Spurs have their own first-round pick and the right to a pick swap with the Hawks.
In 2027, the Spurs have their own pick and an unprotected pick from the Hawks.
This story was originally published January 29, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
