NBA Trade Grades: Spurs acquire De’Aaron Fox

NBA Trade Grades: Spurs acquire De’Aaron Fox

The San Antonio Spurs added to their core Sunday evening, acquiring guard De’Aaron Fox from the Sacramento Kings in a three-team, seven-player swap that saw Zach LaVine land in Sacramento.

How did each team fare? Let’s examine!

San Antonio Spurs Receive: De’Aaron Fox, Jordan McLaughlin

The Spurs made out excellently in this deal.

Ever since adding Victor Wembanyama, they have tried to add talent around him. Now, they found the perfect guy to add in Fox, one of the best point guards in the NBA who’s only 27-years-old.

Better yet, the Spurs didn’t trade any of their best young players–Devin Vassell, Stephon Castle or Keldon Johnson–and still have the flexibility to make another deal to add to this Fox-Castle-Wembanyama core. They didn’t trade nothing when it came to pick capital–forking over six of the seven picks, including four firsts–but at least two of the four firsts aren’t projected to be good first-round picks.

Regardless, San Antonio struck while the iron was hot and were the clear winners of this trade. Fox is amazing and should fit perfectly with Wembanyama.

Grade: A

Sacramento Kings Receive: Zach LaVine, Sidy Cissoko, 3 First-Round Picks, 3 Second-Round Picks

I will preface by saying as soon as it was revealed that Fox’s target destination was the Spurs, we know the trade was going to have plenty of moving parts, but the market ultimately dwindled for Sacramento. Is this a very good return? It’s so-so, though they were able to get off of Huerter’s contract while collecting plenty of draft capital.

The picks aren’t great, but it’s not nothing. However, one of the three first-rounders–Charlotte’s lottery-protected 2025 first-rounder–will automatically turn into two seconds in 2026 and 2027 if the pick doesn’t convey this year, which it won’t. Thus, the Kings received two firsts and four seconds for Fox. The Spurs’ 2027 first won’t be good while the 2031 Minnesota first may or not me good, depending on Anthony Edwards‘ future and how that situation unfolds.

I also don’t understand wanting to reunite LaVine and DeRozan together along with Sabonis. That part doesn’t make a lick of sense, and they weren’t able to get any of the Spurs’ young players, which is surprising given that seven players got traded in this deal.

Grade: D+

Chicago Bulls Receive: Zach Collins, Tre Jones, Kevin Huerter, 2025 First (CHI)

At least the Bulls got their own pick back and cleared $49 million in 2026-27? Jones’ $9.1 million is expiring after this season while Huerter and Collins are projected to make roughly $36 million in 2025-26 as expiring deals, according to Spotrac. They can also reroute any of these three players over the next 72-ish hours and collect more assets. They’re now fully incentivized to blow it up with their pick back this year–where the draft is loaded. But those are the only positives. We’ll see what else they do, but I don’t love this for Chicago.

Grade: C-

What were your trade grades from this deal? Let us know in the comments!

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