NBA Exec: Kings 'Seem to Know' De'Aaron Fox Won't Sign New Contract amid Trade Rumors

Even though the Sacramento Kings have been playing much better under interim head coach Doug Christie, this recent short-term success doesn't seem like it's going to change De'Aaron Fox's willingness to make a long-term commitment to the organization.

Per ESPN's Brian Windhorst, one NBA executive said the Kings "seem to know" Fox won't sign an extension with them.

"That's clarifying, and now they can be a first mover and do it at a time when they can get the best deal. This is how Utah played things with Donovan Mitchell a few years ago," the executive added. "They got out ahead of it and generated a bidding war."

Fox's status with the Kings seemed to be made clear on Tuesday when ESPN's Shams Charania reported Sacramento was expected to open talks with interested teams prior to the Feb. 6 trade deadline.

There had been rumblings prior to Charania's report that Fox had already started thinking about his future. The Athletic's Sam Amick and Anthony Slater reported on Dec. 21 that his camp was "reading the room in Sacramento before deciding what comes next."

Fox turned down a three-year, $165 million extension offer from the Kings prior to the start of this season. It was part of a strategic move because he will be eligible for a four-year, $229 million extension next summer. If he becomes supermax eligible by making the All-NBA team, the offer would increase to $345 million over five years.

The Kings have struggled to build on their positive momentum from the 2022-23 season when they finished third in the West with a 48-34 record and ended their 16-year playoff drought, losing to the Golden State Warriors in the first round.

Sacramento did put together a 46-36 record last season but missed the playoffs after losing to the Warriors and New Orleans Pelicans in the play-in tournament.

After a 13-18 start this season, the Kings fired Brown on Dec. 27. They have put together a good stretch under Christie with an 11-5 record in their last 16 games to move up to 10th in the Western Conference.

Fox has one more year remaining on his current contract with a $37.1 million salary in 2025-26. The 27-year-old is averaging 25.1 points on 46.8 percent shooting, 6.2 assists and 5.0 rebounds per game in 44 starts this season.