Fox addresses trade rumors, won't quit on Kings to force move

De'Aaron Fox on Wednesday acknowledged reports suggesting the Sacramento Kings are entertaining offers for the former All-NBA guard.

However, with the Kings in the thick of the Western Conference playoff race, Fox says he doesn't intend to hold himself back until a deal is found.

"Every day I step on the court, I do my job," he told Chris Biderman of The Sacramento Bee. "That's always my thing.

"I've never been a person to worry about anything else or go and do anything else. Every time I step on the court, I try to play the best I can, I try to win games."

Sacramento has long resisted dealing its franchise guard despite multiple trade rumors throughout his eight years with the organization. However, his contract status was a likely factor in the team's about-face.

Fox turned down a three-year, $165-million max extension from the Kings last summer in hopes of securing a larger deal this offseason. He said on Draymond Green's podcast in December that he wants to reassess the team's commitment to winning before signing another deal. If Sacramento can't reach an agreement with the guard this offseason, he'd be poised to become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2026.

Complicating matters are additional reports that Fox prefers to land with the San Antonio Spurs if he's traded. While he didn't confirm interest in the Spurs, he did say he hopes to end up on one specific team.

"For sure, I think everybody has a preferred destination," Fox told Biderman. "I think everybody has a preferred destination if they're not in the place that - or if they're not going to be in the place where they are in the moment. I think it's natural."

Fox, an All-Star in 2022-23, is averaging 25.2 points, 6.2 assists, five rebounds, and 1.5 steals in 43 starts this season.