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In the new NBA world, player empowerment means everything. This often comes out in star players asking for trades out of situations that they no longer feel suit their needs at the current time.
Some around NBA circles have disliked this, especially when it comes to smaller marketed teams since they normally land stars through drafts. Star players tend to prefer bigger markets but above all, they want to win in this league.
One name that has been mentioned around NBA circles in trade rumors of late is Sacramento Kings star guard D'Aaron Fox. With the Kings firing head coach Mike Brown, Sacramento may be open for business, trade-wise.
In this new trade idea, the Kings send Fox to a rival in the Golden State Warriors but get back a potential star of their own. After looking at the CBA and using the Spotrac trade machine, here is how a deal could look:
Warriors receive: De'Aaron Fox and Jonas Valanciunas
Kings receive: Jonathan Kuminga, Kyle Kuzma, a 2025 first-round draft pick from the Warriors, a 2027 first-round draft pick of the Warriors, and a 2028 first-round draft pick swap from the Warriors
Wizards receive: Andrew Wiggins, Brandin Podziemski, Kevon Looney, and a 2026 second-round draft pick from the Kings
Why Golden State does this
The Warriors have been wanting to pair Steph Curry with another star and are expected to be active in doing so. While the Kings may not prefer to send Fox to Golden State, the package back is strong.
Fox would give the Warriors another chance at a title this season. Curry and Fox are good friends, possibly adding more fuel to this idea coming true if Sacramento is willing to move him.
Why Washington does this
The Wizards get a very nice deal here, landing Wiggins to help his old Golden State teammate Jordan Poole with scoring. They can keep him around for a little or try to flip him down the line.
With Podziemski, Washington gets a nice, versatile recent All-Rookie guard who has shown real promise to start his NBA career. The Wizards could expedite their rebuild here and get more assets for the future.
Why Sacramento does this
The Kings make the tough decision to move Fox but they land a nice haul in return. Getting Kuminga in this deal allows them to start rebuilding pretty quickly, giving them a potential young star in the making.
Kuzma has been a player that the Kings have wanted for a long time and he finally lands on their roster. This deal sets Sacramento up nicely for the future while also allowing it to be decently competitive at the current time.
For more on the Warriors, Kings, Wizards, and NBA at large, check out Newsweek Sports.
About the writer
Matt Levine works as a contributing writer for Newsweek based in California. His expertise is in covering the NBA but ... Read more