NBA Rumors: Kings, De’Aaron Fox, Lakers, Warriors

Kings

Not surprisingly, the Spurs are among the teams expressing interest in acquiring Kings point guard De’Aaron Fox, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. Over the past 30 hours, the Kings have fielded numerous offers for Fox, who is considered one of the top trade targets ahead of the February 6 NBA deadline.De'Aaron Fox, Kings, NBA

Charania reports that Fox, a max-contract player in the prime of his career, has identified San Antonio as his preferred destination.

With a year-and-a-half remaining on his contract before he can become a free agent, the Kings face a decision: trade him now for the best offer or wait until the offseason.

Fox’s agent, Rich Paul, has indicated that the player does not intend to sign an extension with Sacramento. The trade deadline looms as the Kings weigh their options for the dynamic guard.

Lakers

Lakers big man Anthony Davis is pushing for the team to acquire a center, with the Wizards’ Jonas Valanciunas emerging as a potential target. According to Dan Woike of the LA TImes, Valanciunas is a favorite in key parts of the Lakers’ locker room, offering post scoring and potential depth for their second unit.

However, concerns about fitting Valanciunas into coach JJ Redick’s system, which doesn’t prioritize a back-to-the-basket center, are causing hesitation. The Lakers’ 2020 championship run featured Davis at power forward, with JaVale McGee and Dwight Howard at center, while LeBron James played point-forward.

As of now, the Lakers are 26-19, sitting fifth in the Western Conference, and have been carefully weighing the cost and fit of adding a big man. Valanciunas is averaging 11.7 points, 8.1 rebounds, and shooting 56.4% from the field for Washington, earning $9.9 million this season.

Warriors

The Warriors are increasingly interested in acquiring available Heat star Jimmy Butler, per The Athletic’s Anthony Slater and Marcus Thompson II. Butler, who has requested a trade, saw Miami lower its asking price for the veteran forward.

While team sources have downplayed recent talks with the Heat, there has been growing intrigue within the Warriors’ front office about the possibility of acquiring Butler at a reduced cost.

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  • Bulls center Nikola Vucevic views the Warriors as a desirable trade destination if the Chicago Bulls move him, per Slater and Thompson II. The Warriors are interested but see Vucevic as a secondary option, with discussions ongoing as they navigate their luxury-tax situation ahead of the trade deadline.
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