The fantasy scenario of an association of De’aaron Fox-Victor Wembanyama can no longer be a product of our imagination, but rather a plausible scenario that could soon materialize.
“De’aaron Fox, leading to the hole, and throws it to Wembanyama for the blow!”
It is not just fans who have tried to play these two players. It is the same Fox.
According to reports, the Sacramento Kings are open to move from Fox, due to their lack of will to sign a long -term contract extension, and according to multiple reports, he wants to become a spur and play with Wembanyama.
With the Fox contract expired in 2026, the clock is working stronger every day due to the NBA trade deadline of February 6.
Before entering what would really be needed for Spurs to get Fox, we first do an essential cleaning:
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Fox is winning $ 34.8 million this season and can win $ 37 million next season. It declined a Sacramento contract extension offer last summer that was worth $ 165 million.
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If negotiated, Fox is no longer eligible for a Supermax contract, which would be $ 345 million in five years. However, such agreement, even if it is eligible, would probably not be offered since historically it is a long -range shooter that still depends too much on its athletics. (However, we do not pretend that it is Russell Westbrook’s past. Fox has a good floor game, it is simply not close to what a supermax would constitute).
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We still have to be aware of what Sacramento is looking for. Spurs can gather a huge commercial package, but the vast majority of the value would be in the compensation of the container. On the other hand, the Kings prefer the talent established to stay competitive, the two parties would have to travel a third team that would send talent to Sacramento for the compensation of the San Antonio teams.
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These aforementioned selections are strongly linked to the successes or failures of the Atlanta Hawks. The Spurs have the first unprotected round of Atlanta this season and in 2027, with an exchange in 2026.
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Given the news that the Hawks striker Jalen Johnson will have a termination surgery of the season, the value of the selection of 2025 could have seen a significant increase.
Then, contractually, the Spurs would have to send some money to match Fox’s salary. Fortunately, that part is easy.
Keldon Johnson ($ 19 million) and Zach Collins ($ 16.7 million) work, while combining to earn $ 35.7 million. Since the Kings are more than $ 7 million under the first threshold of the apron, that agreement works without problems.
But as everyone can see, this package needs a value alignment. And that is where we enter if the Kings would prefer to recover selections or talent.
If they are inclined to recover the draft compensation, the two Hawks select in 2025 and 2027 should function as a solid base for new negotiations.
However, if they are not willing, both parties will have to find a third team, and things become substantially more difficult.
First, who is the player who would like to add?
Second, is that player available?
Third, would team 3 try to squeeze the lemon, knowing very well how essential its role to complete trade?
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Actually, scratch that. We already know the answer to that, and it is overwhelmingly. Team 3 would absolutely try to extract more value, as it should.
This does not mean that the Kings can insist on a good player from another place, not catch him and then throw in the towel.
If Fox arrives at the free agency without restrictions in 2026, he can simply leave, with the Kings not receiving any return, which would be disastrous for them. Sacramento must be completely motivated to find an agreement that optimizes a valuable return.
Except that we have not finished exactly with complexities. We have not even entered into the possible thought of San Antonio yet.
With the injury in Johnson in Atlanta, would the Spurs prefer not to make an exchange before the deadline, hoping to see where he chooses lands of 2025 Hawks?
If Atlanta wins the lottery, surely the Spurs would be more than happy to match Wembanyama with Cooper Flagg or Dylan Harper in a four -year controlled rookie agreement.
(Flagg or Harper would also be better aligned with Wembanyama from an age perspective).
Or could the Spurs simply have a hurry and, instead, wait for the situation in Sacramento? After all, Fox has now shown his hand, and now they know he wants to become a spur. Instead of giving up multiple assets for him, they could simply spend next year and a half building their team and then sign it directly in 2026.
Finally, and possibly the most important thing, are we sure that Spurs are even in the idea that Fox is the best formula partner for Wembanyama?
Fox is a clear All-Star, and would absolutely help Spurs improve. But since its 3 -point shooting is unstable at best, it is not necessarily an offensive adjustment without problems with the 7 -foot and 5 -inch French that needs an optimized space around it to maximize its talent.
It would not be unfair for the Spurs to simply want to go in another direction, especially because Fox will look for a big problem, which will obstruct his cap.
In any case, it is justified if the Spurs take the position that they need to be very safe before squeezing the trigger of anything like Wembanyama is, with much, its main approach.
If the Spurs consider good enough to become the second guy in San Antonio, there is also an immediate advantage of taking into account.
Fox currently occupies 24.8% of the salary limit this season. That is not a large percentage. Wembanyama is another two years in its rookie agreement, and the limit is expected to increase by 10% this July.
In theory, the Spurs could have another way, financially speaking, to make another great movement, depending, of course, that they do not send all their draft selections to Sacramento in the process.
Yes, there are many turns and possible turns in all this. It is not exactly simple. The motivations of both sides will take into account, as are the price configuration, and even the Atlanta Hawks game for the second half of the season.
Anyway, Spurs have the power here. Fox wants them, and the whole league is aware. The Kings want a return to Fox, but San Antonio does not have the obligation to meet the sale price of Sacramento.
While everyone would love to see a trade like this fall, the Spurs should not be in a hurry to do anything, unless it favors them significantly.
(Tagstotranslate) Sacramento Kings