With De’Aaron Fox now gettable, the Nets are anticipated to be one among a bunch of groups making an attempt to go and get him.
However simply how badly do they need him? And does he need them in any respect?
Sacramento, the place Jordi Fernandez was the affiliate head coach from 2022-24, is predicted to open up talks to maneuver Fox earlier than the Feb. 6 commerce deadline, based on ESPN.
Fox instantly supplants Jimmy Butler atop the record of accessible game-changers, and Brooklyn sees the Kings guard as a commerce goal — although sources inform The Submit that Giannis Antetokounmpo remains to be the final word prize.
Level guard has been an issue since Kyrie Irving left, with even their spells of strong play coming from stopgaps like Dennis Schroder. A 27-year-old All-Star, Fox would change all that.
Nonetheless, a bunch of groups are anticipated to flood the Kings with provides for Fox. And the purpose guard himself — together with agent Wealthy Paul of Klutch Sports activities — already has a most popular vacation spot in thoughts, per ESPN.
Sources that spoke with The Submit have stated since final month that the notion round league circles is that San Antonio is a pacesetter within the clubhouse.
In brief, Brooklyn would have its work lower out to 1) outbid the opposite suitors, and a couple of) persuade Fox, who can grow to be an unrestricted free agent in 2026.
However for the primary, they lead your complete league in future first-round draft picks at 15, a dozen of that are tradeable and 4 of that are within the June 25 NBA Draft.
And for the second, they’ve Fernandez.
“I think he’s going to be a hell of a head coach, for sure,” Fox stated when Fernandez took the Brooklyn job.
The pair shared a heat embrace when the Nets and Kings met. Brooklyn normal supervisor Sean Marks informed The Submit that he’ll definitely take heed to Fernandez’s strategies on participant acquisitions.
“I look at the coaching staff and the front office — that relationship and that dynamic — as a partnership,” Marks informed The Submit. “I should rely on them, because their experiences and their interactions with players — whether it’s from other teams or just being on the court — they’re up close.”
Fernandez introduced plenty of Kings with him, Dutch Gaitley and Deividas Dulkys now on employees. Each could be pleasant, acquainted faces for Fox.
The guard is beneath contract subsequent season at $37.1 million, and eligible for a four-year, $229 extension this summer season.
However cash isn’t the actual query for Marks and Nets proprietor Joe Tsai.
The Nets should gauge if Antetokounmpo — whom The Submit has reported remains to be their white whale — will ever grow to be out there, and in the event that they’re ready to attend.
“Brooklyn is still holding out for Giannis,” a supply informed The Submit.
The Nets should discern whether or not they can win a bidding conflict for Fox. If that’s the case, can or not it’s executed expending few sufficient belongings that 1) they may nonetheless make a aggressive supply ought to the Bucks ever resolve to maneuver Antetokounmpo, and a couple of) they’d have sufficient of a workforce left that the previous MVP would even wish to come to Brooklyn.
If they will do all that, Fox may be a drawing card for Antetokounmpo. There’s so much to love about his 25.2 factors, 6.2 assists and 5 rebounds.
That’s the calculus they’ll strive to determine, as they defend their belongings and suppleness.
“You have to be poised and position yourself to be able to have that opportunity [to add a star],” Marks informed The Submit final month. “We’re going to present ourselves the very best probability to try this. Now, on whom and when, that’s TBD.
“But when we took over [in 2016], it was three or four seasons before we were able to say, ‘Hey, we’ve all of a sudden got a team that’s now able to contend. It’s a playoff team.’ … We fell short, we didn’t come close. So the goal now is to be able to do it again, build it up and try and and have another hit at it.”
