Victor Wembanyama is gaining an essential new teammate as De’Aaron Fox is set to exit Sacramento and make his way to San Antonio. This player movement arises from a significant trade agreement involving three teams. As part of this deal, Zach LaVine, a two-time All-Star, will transition from Chicago to Sacramento, while Zach Collins heads from San Antonio to Chicago, and Kevin Huerter moves from the Kings to the Bulls, according to sources familiar with the negotiations.
Sources, who requested anonymity due to the ongoing league approval process surrounding the trade, revealed additional movements: Jordan McLaughlin will depart Sacramento for the Spurs, Sidy Cissoko will shift from the Spurs to the Kings, and Tre Jones will join Chicago from San Antonio. Notably, the trade also includes substantial draft assets, with the Sacramento Kings expected to acquire at least three first-round picks.
With the NBA trade deadline looming on Thursday, this pivotal three-team deal coincided with another remarkable transaction involving Luka Doncic being sent to the Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis. The addition of Fox to the Spurs roster presents a major opportunity for the team, especially as Wembanyama, last season’s rookie of the year, continues to gain prominence in the league. The young star is poised to make his debut in the All-Star Game this month and is being considered in defensive player of the year discussions, with potential MVP votes likely coming his way.
Fox’s motivation to join the Spurs aligns perfectly with his aspirations, given Wembanyama’s exceptional 7-foot-4 presence that poses challenges for opposing defenses. This partnership is an attractive prospect for any point guard in the league. During the current season, Fox is averaging 25 points, 6.1 assists, and five rebounds per game. With previous honors as an All-Star and All-NBA player, he embarks on this new chapter of his career in his eighth season alongside Wembanyama.
The Spurs successfully orchestrated this high-profile trade without sacrificing many of their abundant draft picks or core young talents, including players like rookie Stephon Castle, Jeremy Sochan, and Keldon Johnson. They also retained veterans Chris Paul and Harrison Barnes, both of whom are experiencing their first year in San Antonio.
Conversely, LaVine’s transition to Sacramento represents a fresh start of his own, allowing him to reconnect with former Bulls colleague DeMar DeRozan and join forces with the formidable Domantas Sabonis, a consistent All-NBA performer. This season, LaVine has been putting up 24 points per game, on track to maintain a scoring average above 20 points for the fifth consecutive season. Historically, he has averaged 20.7 points per game throughout his career, spanning tenures with Minnesota and the Bulls.
Huerter, who has averaged 11.5 points across his career with Atlanta and Sacramento, is also in line for an invigorating opportunity after frequently coming off the bench this season with 28 appearances out of 43 games. For the players involved in this trade, changes are inevitable with prospects of newfound opportunities and roles.
Meanwhile, Collins has averaged 4.6 points per game for the Spurs, Jones recorded 4.4 points, and Cissoko managed 1.3 points over 17 games with San Antonio. McLaughlin, on the other hand, averaged 1.9 points over his 28 appearances with the Kings, indicating significant adjustments ahead for several players involved in this transformative deal.
