By all accounts, the Kings and standout point guard De’Aaron Fox are exploring the parting of ways — and before the NBA trade deadline to boot.
Well, good luck with all that.
The new collective-bargaining agreement is set up to thwart players’ ability to pick their own destinations via trade, and given these new labor rules, the team for which Fox wants to play would have to surrender the sun, moon and lots of draft picks just to stay afloat.
Not financially, mind you. But acquiring Fox could mean no future moves (and few draft picks) for any team that does so.
This isn’t to say the Kings can’t trade Fox, who’s represented by agent Rich Paul. It’s just to say it won’t be easy to trade him for the spot he may seek.
You see, the new CBA is no longer set up to just punish owners with things as simple as luxury taxes and penalties. It now punishes general managers, which for the NBA, was the only way to go.
Owners are always willing to spend frivolously. Many are obsessed with the idea of “Big Three,” likely unaware that just getting three big names and throwing them together doesn’t work anymore. (Phoenix Suns, anyone?)
But GMs? They’re more obsessed with “assets.” They rarely want to surrender the future for the here and now. Unless, of course, LeBron James is on the team.
So that makes you think Fox’s wish list of one is none other than the Lakers. Maybe not, as it’s been reported he does NOT have his sights set on LA. But we can safely assume he’s not longing to play for, say, the Wizards.
But Lakers, Warriors, Celtics, Knicks … whoever. It will be easy for the Kings to trade Fox. It won’t be nearly as easy for Fox to get to where he supposedly wants to go.
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