Crown Kings Management As Dunces In Fox Saga

By Mardeio Cannon | OBSERVER Columnist

Blame lies squarely at the feet of Kings management for De’Aaron Fox’s exit from Sacramento.

Two straight years of inaction at the trade deadline and failing to add the right pieces during the draft or the offseason led to a trade to San Antonio. It’s why the guy who had become the franchise player the Kings hoped to build around instead is throwing lobs to Victor Wembanyama.

When the Kings had plenty of guards, they used the ninth pick in last year’s draft on 6-foot-2 guard Devin Carter from Providence. Emerging two-way player Keon Ellis already needed more time on the court and the Kings had added free agent Jordan McLaughlin, who’s also 6-2. The Kings knew Carter needed shoulder surgery and would not be available until January. To make matters worse, they passed on sharpshooting Tennessee small forward Dalton Knecht, who the Lakers took. Carter is in the G League while Knecht is a rotation player who was in the NBA’s Rising Stars Game last weekend.

Signs of Fox’s level of discontent first showed over the summer when the point guard said he was not ready to sign an extension. Fox said he needed to see roster upgrades that would make the Kings NBA championship contenders. When a six-game losing streak cost Coach Mike Brown his job, Fox had to deny that he was the catalyst for the firing.

Soon after, word leaked that Fox wanted to be traded to the Spurs. At that point, it was a foregone conclusion his Kings days were over.

The Kings did add shooting guard Zach LaVine, a two-time all-star, in the Fox deal. But LaVine is three years older and about $9 million a year more expensive.

If DeMar DeRozan can regain the chemistry he had with LaVine while both played for Chicago and the Kings stay healthy the rest of the season, the Kings have an outside chance of climbing to sixth in the very competitive Western Conference and avoiding a play-in game.

The Kings need everything to fall in place to have a successful season. Fox, meanwhile, has landed in a good spot for future success with the Spurs. And the Kings have only themselves to blame for losing one of the NBA’s brightest young talents.