Sacramento Kings

The Sacramento Kings aren't willing to entertain trade talks involving point guard De'Aaron Fox, according to Brett Siegel of Clutch Points.

Siegel reported on Friday that the Kings have "zero intentions" of making Fox available in negotiations with opposing teams ahead of the Feb. 6 trade deadline. Sharpshooter Kevin Huerter and forward Trey Lyles are the two "main contracts" that Sacramento has been dangling in discussions.

As the Kings sit at No. 12 in the Western Conference standings with a mere 13-15 record, general manager Monte McNair should be actively pursuing upgrades on the trade market.

Sacramento was listed as a possible suitor for Chicago Bills star Zach LaVine during the summer, but Siegel noted that "many league personnel" feel that the team isn't currently planning to pursue LaVine.

It's easy to see why the Kings aren't interested in moving Fox, as the All-Star is in the midst of another impressive season as their lead guard. In 28 starts, he's averaging 26.2 points and 6.1 assists to go along with 1.7 steals per game on 48.0/32.6/80.5 shooting splits.

Huerter has served as a key starter for Sacramento over the past two seasons, but he was recently moved to the bench amid struggled to open his 2024-25 campaign. He's recording 9.8 points in 25.6 minutes per game, while his 31.7 three-point percentage is the worst mark of his career.

With one year and $18 million remaining on his contract after the regular season comes to a close, the Kings may choose to move him before his deal becomes expiring salary.

Don't expect Fox to experience a change of scenery, though.

The Sacramento Kings are viewed as a likely destination for Kyle Kuzma if he's traded by the Washington Wizards, according to Brett Siegel of Clutch Points.

"Many continue to view the Kings as the destination that makes the most sense for Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma, who is also drawing interest from several other teams," Siegel wrote on Friday.

Sacramento's start to the 2024-25 season has been underwhelming, especially after the team finished with at least 46 regular-season wins in each of the prior two years.

The Kings sit at 13-15, representing a 46.4 winning percentage that ranks No. 21 among all teams. They still own the No. 12 net rating in the association, which could mean that they're in line to improve as the year continues (NBA.com).

While Kuzma may not solve Sacramento's defensive concerns, he would provide a spark off the bench. The Kings' reserves have combined to average just 25.6 points per game this season, the third-worst mark in the NBA.

A potential move to Sacramento isn't a large surprise, as Anthony Slater and Sam Amick of The Athletic reported in June that the team's interest in Kuzma "picked back up" over the summer. While a deal never materialized, the Kings might pursue a trade once again.

Kuzma has struggled with his efficiency while dealing with a rib injury this season, making just 12 appearances. He's averaging 15.8 points and 5.6 rebounds per game, shooting 42 percent from the field and 27.6 percent from three-point territory.

A change of scenery could help him look more like his former self, as he recorded 20.2 points per game on 45.5/33.6/74.0 shooting splits over his first three years in Washington. Playing alongside Kings stars such as Domantas Sabonis and De'Aaron Fox may also allow him to get easier looks at the rim as well as behind the arc.

The 2024-25 NBA trade deadline is on Feb. 6 at 3 p.m. ET.

The Sacramento Kings are aggressively searching for some upgrades ahead of the Feb. 6 NBA trade deadline.

Shooting guard Kevin Huerter and power forward Trey Lyles are both "widely known to be available from the Kings," according to NBA Insiders Marc Stein and Jake Fischer.

Lyles has been sidelined since Nov. 25 with a Grade 1 calf strain suffered in the second quarter of the Kings' 130-109 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The 6'9" forward signed a two-year, $16 million contract with the Kings in 2023, making his $8 million expiring deal easier to move.

In his nine seasons in the league, Lyles has played for five teams. With the 13-13 Kings this season, he is averaging 5.4 points and 3.9 rebounds while shooting 36.3 percent from the field.

Huerter has also been sidelined and is listed as day-to-day after suffering a shoulder injury in last Thursday's 111-109 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans. He is owed $16.8 million this season and $17.9 million in the final year of his deal in 2025-26.

The former Atlanta Hawk is averaging 9.9 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists this season with the Kings while shooting 31.1 percent from behind the three-point line.

The two former first-round picks could shape up to be part of a trade package in exchange for a veteran to complement stars De'Aaron Fox, DeMar DeRozan and Domantas Sabonis.

An anonymous NBA executive brought up an unexpected potential landing spot for Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James this week should the Lakers decide to trade him.

Speaking to Heavy.com's Steve Bulpett, the exec mentioned the Sacramento Kings as a team that could possibly accommodate James and win with him in the fold, saying:

"The one place that I don't hear a lot of talk about with LeBron is Sacramento. He could change them, and they might have the kind assets to make a trade work. They have a lot of young talent, and because they're a small market, they haven't spent like drunken sailors. They have some draft picks a young talent. If they could get to the salary, LeBron would take [De'Aron] Fox and [Domantas] Sabonis and elevate the hell out of them—particularly Fox. With that threesome, those guys could be a force."

As has been the case with James on occasion during his seven-year run in L.A., some trade rumors and speculation have popped up recently.

Speaking this week on First Take, former NBA center and current ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins (h/t Corey Hansford of Lakers Nation) said sources indicated to him that if LeBron wants to explore a trade, the Lakers would allow him to do so.

However, ESPN's Brian Windhorst said on Get Up that James has given "no indication" that he wants to leave the Lakers.

Windhorst added that James' preference is for the Lakers to improve their roster prior to the February trade deadline so they can potentially be championship contenders in the Western Conference.

James, who will turn 40 later this month, is the oldest player in the NBA, and while he has remained productive, his scoring numbers and efficiency haven't quite been at the level they usually are.

His 23.0 points per game is his lowest scoring average since his rookie year in 2003-04, plus he is shooting just 49.5 percent from the field, which is his lowest shooting percentage since 2019-20.

Still, James is more than capable of contributing to winning basketball, as evidenced by his 9.1 assists and 8.0 rebounds per contest.

The Lakers are just two seasons removed from reaching the Western Conference Finals, but they are off to an uneven start this season at 13-11, placing them eighth in the Western Conference.

Perhaps there is a world in which James requests a trade somewhere he believes has a better chance of contending, although it is fair to question if Sacramento qualifies given that the Kings are 12-13.

A trio of James, Fox and Sabonis could potentially turn around the Kings' fortunes, but they have only made the playoffs once since the 2005-06 season and haven't won a playoff series since 2004, so they may not truly be a realistic landing spot for one of the greatest players of all time.

Some NBA executives believe DeMar DeRozan's fit with De'Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis has contributed to the Sacramento Kings' sub-.500 start to the season, according to ESPN's Tim Bontemps and Brian Windhorst.

DeRozan has ranked second on the team with 22.7 points per game as the Kings began the season with a 10-13 record.

One Western Conference executive told Bontemps: "He is who he is. What he does takes away from what both Fox and Sabonis do because they tend to operate in the same areas on the court."

Another NBA executive told Windhorst: "DeRozan is a highly skilled player who is great to have in the locker room and a guy who you want to give the ball to at the end of a game. But his play hasn't driven winning, and it's something that unfortunately has been the case throughout his career and it's part of why he's changed teams a bunch."

DeRozan joined the Kings this summer after a three-team sign-and-trade deal involving the Chicago Bulls and San Antonio Spurs.

The trade marked DeRozan's third new team since he was traded by the Toronto Raptors in 2018. The Raptors went on to win the 2019 NBA title.

In six seasons with the Spurs and Bulls since then, DeRozan has seen his teams record winning records just twice. Both the 2018-19 Spurs and 2021-22 Bulls were then bounced from the playoffs in the first round.

After making the deal for DeRozan in the hopes of pairing him with their All-Star duo in order to return to the playoffs after a disappointing miss last season, the 2024-25 Kings are now in danger of marking a losing record of their own. Sacramento has lost seven of its last nine games, most recently dropping a 115-110 decision to the host Memphis Grizzlies.

The Kings have averaged four fewer drives per game since acquiring DeRozan. While leaning on DeRozan's mid-range skill, the Kings will need more production from players like Sabonis at the rim in order to recover from the team's current slump.

DeRozan will reunite with one of his former teams on Friday night when the Kings return to action with a road game against the San Antonio Spurs. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. ET.

The Sacramento Kings are close to landing a veteran to help bolster their roster.

Per ESPN's Shams Charania, the Kings and free agent forward Jae Crowder are "close to a deal." Crowder, a 13-year veteran, played for the Milwaukee Bucks during the 2023-24 season.

According to Charania, Crowder could play as early as Wednesday's matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Crowder, a second-round pick in the 2012 NBA draft, has averaged 9.3 points, 4.2 boards, 1.6 assists and a steal over his career. His best years came when he was with the Boston Celtics as he averaged around 14 points and five rebounds per game across the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons.

Crowder helped the Miami Heat reach the NBA Finals in 2020 before joining the Phoenix Suns for their Finals run the following season.

Last season with the Bucks, Crowder put up 6.2 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game while playing 23.1 minutes per contest. He spent half of the season coming off the bench and half of the season in the starting lineup.

While Crowder might not be the difference in the Kings becoming a championship team, Sacramento could use a veteran like Crowder amid a sluggish start to the year. The Kings, who have dealt with a handful of injuries to start the year, are 8-10 and have lost four straight.

They added a star DeMar DeRozan to play alongside De'Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis, but the new roster hasn't found much success so far. They'll look to Crowder to help push them in the right direction.

The first look at Sacramento Kings star De'Aaron Fox's signature shoe has been unveiled three weeks before they drop on Dec. 6.

Curry Brand released the renderings of the first signature shoe for the 26-year-old star.

Fox signed with Curry Brand in October 2023, becoming the first signature athlete to join the brand.

The deal included an announcement that he would partner with Curry Brand and Stephen Curry to "collaborate and expand Curry Brand's reach across the basketball space and beyond."

Initial renderings of Fox's shoe were released in September, with the main signifier being a fox in a curled position to form a D.

There don't appear to have been many changes to the shoe from its initial rendering to the official unveiling on Tuesday.

Fox has experienced steady growth throughout his career to become one of the best point guards in the NBA. He had high expectations coming into the league as the No. 5 overall pick in the 2017 draft.

When the Kings were deciding who would be their point guard of the future during the 2021-22 season, Fox got the nod when Tyrese Haliburton was traded to the Indiana Pacers midway through the year.

The 2022-23 season was when Fox really came into his own. He made the All-Star team and led the Kings to their first playoff appearance in 17 years where they lost to Curry and the Golden State Warriors in a thrilling seven-game series in the first round.

Fox recently had the best two-game stretch of his career, combining to score 109 points on Nov. 15 and 16. He is averaging a career-high 28.8 points per game in 15 starts this season.

The signature shoe for Fox will be released on the same day the Kings play the San Antonio Spurs at Frost Bank Center.

Sacramento Kings star De'Aaron Fox offered a mock apology after he fell just short of matching an impressive scoring record set by Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant.

Fox dropped 49 points on Saturday in a 121-117 win over the Utah Jazz, one night after his 60-point showing in an overtime loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. According to NBA.com, it's the second-best combined scoring output on consecutive nights over the last 50 years, only one point less than Bryant.

Somebody must have alerted Fox to the fact:

Fox missed four of his eight free throws in the fourth quarter. While inconsequential toward the final outcome, leaving four points at the charity stripe prevented the 2022-23 All-Star from making history.

Still, Sunday's performance is impressive enough in its own right.

Fox shot 16-of-30 from the field and got to the free-throw line 19 times. The Jazz simply had no answer for him when he was attacking the basket. The 6'3" playmaker nearly had a double-double, too, dishing out nine assists.

Up next for Sacramento are the Atlanta Hawks, who rank 25th in defensive rating, per NBA.com. Don't be surprised if Fox is once again flirting with a 50-point outing.

Sacramento Kings point guard De'Aaron Fox didn't hold back his unfiltered and honest reaction to the team's new mascot, Roy Al, which is making its debut in conjunction with the team's City Edition jerseys.

"What the f--k is that?" Fox asked when a reporter showed him Roy Al on his phone. Fox added that Roy Al "looks like he'd work a fast food restaurant."

Sean Cunningham of FOX40 News relayed Fox's remarks.

The Kings' mascot (and the jerseys) pay homage to the team's days as the Cincinnati Royals (1957-1972).

Their logo was a floating basketball head with a crown, hence Roy Al's unique look.

It's clear Fox was a bit taken aback by the new mascot, who will make his debut on Saturday when the Kings host the Utah Jazz. Sacramento already has a mascot (Slamson the Lion), but Roy Al will be hanging out for a bit too, per the team's website.

"Fans can catch the uniform in action at five home games and four road games, with select road matchups featuring both teams in City Edition uniforms for a unique visual experience.

"In addition, when the team wears these uniforms at Golden 1 Center, fans will meet a new mascot, Roy Al. Inspired by the logo featured on the shorts, Roy Al brings to life the team's newly reimagined symbol, a fresh take on the historic Cincinnati Royals logo. Alongside Slamson, Roy Al will be on hand during City Edition games to entertain fans and stir up some mischief."

Tipoff Saturday at Golden 1 Center will take place at 10 p.m. ET. Before then, Sacramento will host the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday evening.

Sacramento Kings veteran DeMar DeRozan received a show of support from team owner Vivek Ranadive amid his simmering feud with Drake.

While sitting courtside at Wednesday night's game against the Toronto Raptors, Ranadive was seen wearing a shirt that read "They Not Like Us," referencing hip-hop star Kendrick Lamar's hit record that dissed Drake over the summer.

While making a guest appearance on commentary during Saturday's matchup between the Raptors and Kings, Drake made it clear that there was no love lost between him and DeRozan.

When asked if DeRozan, who spent the first nine years of his career with the Raptors, should have his jersey retired by the team, Drake responded, "If you ever put up a DeRozan banner, I'll go up there and pull it down myself."

DeRozan fired back by saying, "He gonna have a long way to climb to take it down."

DeRozan and Drake were once close friends, but their relationship understandably changed after this year's beef between Drake and Lamar. DeRozan and Lamar are both natives of Compton, California, and also share a close bond, and the six-time NBA All-Star appeared on stage alongside the 17-time Grammy Award-winning rapper while he performed "Not Like Us" during a concert over the summer. DeRozan also appeared in the music video for the song.

The Kings and Raptors will not face each other again this season, so perhaps this will mark the end of the squabble between DeRozan and Drake.