In Minneapolis, Doug Christie, the interim head coach of the Kings, has a personal understanding of the emotions involved in being traded midseason. Having experienced a trade during his own playing career in Sacramento, he empathizes with De’Aaron Fox, who was officially traded to San Antonio on Monday in a complex three-team deal.
Drafted fifth overall by the Kings in 2017, Fox has been a pivotal figure in the franchise for nearly eight seasons. This year, he has participated in 45 games, where he averaged an impressive 25 points along with 6.1 assists.
In addition to trading Fox, the Kings also dealt Kevin Huerter to the Chicago Bulls and Jordan McLaughlin to the Spurs. In return, they received Zach LaVine from Chicago and Sidy Cissoko from San Antonio, along with a treasure trove of draft assets, consisting of three first-round and three second-round picks.
This trade marks another significant shift for the Kings, which follows the recent firing of coach Mike Brown amid a challenging season, as the team strives to secure a place in the Western Conference playoffs. Christie mentioned that he has been in discussions with several younger players about handling the trade dynamics they face.
“I wanted them to know I’m here for support, as are your teammates,” Christie noted. “That’s a vital part of this experience; no one is navigating this journey alone.”
Although LaVine, who previously played his first three seasons with Minnesota, was not present for Monday night’s game, it’s worth mentioning that he brings significant experience to the team, averaging 24 points and 4.5 assists this season.
“Both players are incredibly talented and offer unique skill sets,” Christie commented when asked to compare Fox and LaVine. “However, we need to focus on tonight’s game against Minnesota. It’s the only thing we have on our agenda right now.”
