Rockets Rumors: De’Aaron Fox Trade Pursuit Not ‘Automatic’ If Star Is Made Available
Scott Polacek@@ScottPolacekFeatured Columnist IVJanuary 2, 2025
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The Houston Rockets have been one of the biggest revelations of the 2024-25 NBA season but may need to add a star player to be a true championship contender.
Perhaps that star player could be De’Aaron Fox if the Sacramento Kings decide to trade the guard, but Houston going after him reportedly isn’t a guarantee.
NBA insider Marc Stein reported Thursday that “it is by no means an automatic that the Rockets would pursue Fox should he be made available after the season.”
The Fox situation is one to monitor, as Stein noted his agent, Rich Paul, met with team officials during a recent losing streak. That “caused a stir,” although the report also pointed out “rival teams do not consider Fox available as we speak.”
It might make some sense for Houston to be interested considering Stein reported it was “eager” to trade for another star guard in Donovan Mitchell during the offseason. However, the Cleveland Cavaliers never made him available and eventually signed him to an extension.
Fox is signed for just one more season after the current one, so the possibility of him eventually leaving Sacramento and signing with another team is something the front office is surely thinking about as the 2024-25 campaign progresses.
If the 15-19 Kings decide they are not realistic contenders in the immediate future, they could look to get a significant return package for Fox and accelerate a potential rebuild with an eye on the future.
The Rockets are a contender that could be in the business of adding another impact player. They are 22-11 and sitting in third place in the Western Conference standings, although they may not have the starpower to emerge from a loaded playoff field come April and May.
Jalen Green, Alperen ĆengĂŒn and Jabari Smith Jr. offer a bright future, while veteran leadership is in place with Fred VanVleet.
However, there are a number of elite stars in the Western Conference in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Ja Morant, Nikola JokiÄ, Luka DonÄiÄ, Anthony Edwards, LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Stephen Curry and Victor Wembanyama, among others. Navigating a playoff field that could include multiple matchups against these caliber players might be tricky for the Rockets.
Fox would at least give Houston more starpower to counter in crunch time, although it reportedly might want to use its resources elsewhere.
