Guard De'Aaron Fox and big man Domantas Sabonis are the cornerstones of the Sacramento Kings, but one half of their core remains uncommitted long-term.
Fox, who's a one-time All-NBA guard, reportedly wishes to see the team's future blueprint prior to extending his deal. The Athletic's Sam Amick and Anthony Slater shared Fox's plans, writing, “Fox’s future looms in the background too, as league sources say the All-Star guard has decided not to sign an extension this year, in part, because he wants to see how the roster takes shape for the long-haul. Fox, who has two seasons left on his current deal, wants to win at the highest level and could also qualify for a significantly larger max if he makes All-NBA.”
The Kings' first step in retaining Fox was re-signing Sixth Man of the Year runner-up Malik Monk to a four-year, nearly $80 million contract. The following effort will take place on Wednesday at the NBA Draft, as Sacramento holds the No. 13 pick. Moving the pick in a trade is not out of the equation despite Fox and Sabonis both less than 29 years old. Forward Keegan Murray, who was the No. 4 pick in 2022, could be the X-factor for Fox to remain with the team. If he's able to blossom into an All-Star-level player, a Big Three would pose a much greater threat in the stacked Western Conference.
