The Houston Rockets appear unwilling to trade for Sacramento Kings point guard De'Aaron Fox, a stance that could haunt them for years to come.

These three teams are rising contenders in need of a star point guard and have the kinds of assets that the Kings would be interested in.

Despite sitting in second place in the Western Conference and boasting a haul of future draft picks, the Houston Rockets don't seem like they will

On top of Barnes' potential return, the Kings can likely poach the Spurs' Rookie of the Year front-runner Stephon Castle in a deal. Castle is averaging 11.7 points and 3.6 assists as the No. 4 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, proving to be acclimating to the next level rather quickly at just 20 years old.

Fox, who was an NBA All-Star and NBA Clutch Player of the Year in 2023, led the league in steals last season. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, there will be “ plenty of suitors ” for his services if he does become available on the trade market.

The Kings point guard has preferred destination, according to reports, but these teams make the most sense as a landing spot.

The NBA trade deadline is a week away and rumors continue to swirl. Jimmy Butler 's situation with the Miami Heat remains ongoing. De'Aaron Fox is the latest big name involved in speculation. There are several teams expected to be interested in acquiring Fox from the Sacramento Kings ... including the Heat.

It’s tough because looking at the landscape before I came here those were the guys I talked to, Fox, Domantas, and Malik,” DeRozan said. “Those are the core guys that made it easy for me to make

The San Antonio Spurs look like they have a leg up on the competition for Sacramento Kings star De’Aaron Fox’s services. Though Fox has publicly denied making an official request, his assertion that “everybody has a preferred destination” (h/t The Sacramento Bee’s Chris Biderman) strongly suggests that he’s considering leaving Northern California.

That’s because the Spurs — reportedly Fox’s preferred trade destination — currently have nine tradeable first-round picks that they can include in a deal to the Heat’s one tradeable first-round selection. San Antonio also has young talent such as Keldon Johnson, Devin Vassell and others who it can add to any trade package for Fox.

ESPN's Shams Charania reports that several teams have been reaching out to Kings regarding De'Aaron Fox ahead of 2025 NBA trade deadline