Kings’ De’Aaron Fox Addresses Trade Rumors: ‘I Can’t Tell Them Not To Listen To Offers’

As of Tuesday, we had only heard reports that Sacramento Kings guard De’Aaron Fox was potentially seeking a trade. On Wednesday, Fox all but confirmed those rumors to NBA reporters at Kings shootaround.

Basically, Fox said he wouldn’t be surprised if he’s moved ahead of next Thursday’s trade deadline.

“In this league, I expect the unexpected,” he said, via Chris Biderman of the Sacramento Bee. “I think crazier things have happened. … That’s their decision to make. I can’t tell them not to listen to offers or I can’t tell them to listen to offers.”

In other words, it sounds as if Fox is fine with or without a trade. He’s mostly being linked to the San Antonio Spurs. That said, per Biderman, Fox has not requested a trade.

But reports say that agent Rich Paul has made it clear that Fox has no intention of signing a long-term extension in Sacramento — and that it may be in the Kings’ best interest to move him now.

Meanwhile, Fox didn’t say anything about where he hopes to go, but he did mention that, yes, he has a preference.

“For sure, I think everybody has a preferred destination,” Fox said, per Biderman. “I think everybody has a preferred destination if they’re not in the place that — or if they’re not going to be in the place where they are in the moment. I think it’s natural.”

Per Shams Charania of ESPN, the Kings would be seeking win-now players, along with draft assets, in any trade involving Fox. But as we wrote here, a trade would not come easily, given the new NBA labor rules.

Fox is signed through this season and next, and indicated he has no intention of sitting out games while Sacramento explores trades.

“Every day I step on the court, I do my job. That’s always my thing,” Fox said. “I’ve never been a person to worry about anything else or go and do anything else. Every time I step on the court, I try to play the best I can, I try to win games.”

The NBA trade deadline is Thursday, February 6.