The Sacramento Kings made a bold move to salvage their season yesterday, firing head coach Mike Brown just 31 games into his third season with the team.
If there’s any silver lining to be taken, it’s that this move could bode well for the futures of former Kentucky Wildcat guards De’Aaron Fox and Malik Monk in Sacramento.
Each are win-now players, and the fact that Brown was fired so early into the season means that the Kings are committed to pursuing postseason success with the two.
Fox was selected fifth overall in the 2017 draft by the Kings. Since, the 2023 All-Star has become their franchise player, averaging 21.5 points and 6.1 assists per game through his eight seasons in Sacramento. He’s having one of his best seasons to date, averaging 26.2 points and 6.1 assists.
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Notably, Fox declined a contract extension in October that would have payed him $165 million across three seasons. He will be under contract in Sacramento until 2026.
Should Fox be traded, he’ll command a package worth significant draft compensation, multiple young players, or, likely, both.
If Fox is traded, that likely also marks the end of All-Stars Damontis Sabonis and Demar Derozan’s time in Sacramento. Each would likely command significant compensation as well.
It would also likely spell the end of Monk’s tenure with the Kings, too. Somewhat of an NBA journeyman, Monk seems to have found a home in Sacramento. He was Fox’s Wildcat teammate in 2017 and was selected eleventh overall by the Charlotte Hornets. He now features prominently as Sacramento’s sixth man.
While the move does signal that the Kings are aiming to turn their season around and stick with their core, don’t be surprised if Sacramento’s ship continues to sink and both former Wildcats are traded.