The Los Angeles Lakers have begun what's expected to be a period of significant activity on the trade market. In dire need of shooting and perimeter defense, the Lakers added Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton in a late-December trade with the Brooklyn Nets.
It appears as though a move for quality role players offered a mere brief glimpse at the Lakers' grander ambitions.
Los Angeles is currently 18-14, having won six of its past nine games. Three of those wins were over the in-state rival Sacramento Kings, with whom the Lakers may not be done. Their next encounter, however, could be away from the court.
According to Sam Amick of The Athletic, the Lakers are one of the three teams most commonly mentioned around the NBA as a suitor for Kings point guard De'Aaron Fox.
"The San Antonio Spurs, Miami Heat and Los Angeles Lakers top the list of teams that are most often discussed as possible Fox landing spots, with others sure to make a run at him if (when?) he’s truly on the market."
It remains unclear if or when Fox will be made available in trade discussions, but it seems as though the Lakers will be at the heart of potential negotiations.
Lakers top the list of teams interested in trading for De'Aaron Fox
Fox, 27, is widely regarded as one of the best point guards in the NBA. He earned All-NBA and All-Star honors in 2022-23, led the Association in steals in 2023-24, and has earned a reputation as a clutch scorer who can put his team on his back in big moments.
Thus far in 2024-25, the eight-year veteran is averaging 26.8 points, 6.2 assists, 5.0 rebounds, 1.6 steals, and 2.1 three-point field goals made per game.
The reason Fox's name continues to show up in trade rumors is the simple fact that he's in the second-to-last year of his current contract. He's owed a reasonable $34,848,340 in 2024-25 and will make an equally as intriguing $37,096,620 in 2025-26 before entering unrestricted free agency in 2026.
With this in mind, many around the NBA are wondering what could transpire if Fox opts against signing a contract extension with the Kings.
The Lakers' interest in Fox should thus come as no surprise. Fox is a proven commodity who can score, distribute, and defend at impressive levels, as well as a clutch scoring threat who's willing and able to take the difficult shots down the stretch.
LeBron James is doing unimaginable things on the court at 40 years of age, but he's also closer to retirement than some would care to admit.
As such, Fox makes sense as a potential long-term complement to franchise player Anthony Davis. He has experience playing with an All-NBA big man in Domantas Sabonis and brings energy and intensity to the court that compares favorably to Davis'.
The Kings haven't yet made Fox available in trade discussions, but at 15-19, it's within the realm of possibility that they could open the door for the Lakers to add their next great point guard before the trade deadline.