It’s time to expect the unexpected.
A handful of teams will be trying to add a piece or two at next Thursday’s NBA trade deadline to become serious contenders, while others could opt to part ways with core talent as they attempt to start building something special for the future.
Whatever happens across the league has the chance to make or break some teams’ seasons, and you can almost guarantee that there will be a number of moves that come straight out of left field.
Here are three that could shock you the most:
Kings ship De’Aaron Fox to San Antonio
ESPN reported Tuesday that Sacramento was willing to hear offers for Fox, who has been with the Kings ever since they selected him with the fifth overall pick of the 2017 draft.
Fox, still only 27, has established himself as Sacramento’s No. 2 option behind Domantas Sabonis, and there are even nights where he ends up in the driver’s seat.
With Fox, the Kings were seemingly starting to head in the right direction, ending a 16-year playoff drought with a trip to the postseason during the 2022-23 campaign. They went 46-36 last season and now sit at 24-23—still very much in the mix to at least reach the play-in tournament.
But now it looks like Sacramento wants to change course. Plenty of teams will be getting in touch with the Kings to ask about Fox, who would likely thrive with the Spurs playing alongside Victor Wembanyama. Having Chris Paul as a mentor wouldn’t hurt, either.
Jimmy Butler reunites with the 76ers
Nov 18, 2024; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (22) drives to the basket against Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) and guard Kyle Lowry (7) during the second quarter at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images Butler has been miserable down in South Beach.
The Miami Heat have suspended the six-time All-Star three times for conduct detrimental to the team, so it’s not a matter of if Butler gets traded; it’s now all about where he’s headed.
A report from Yahoo Sports indicated that Philadelphia big man Joel Embiid wants to play with Butler again. The two were teammates during the 2018-19 season, when Butler made 55 appearances (all starts) for the Sixers.
Change is needed, desperately, in the City of Brotherly Love, as the 76ers are currently 19-27. They wouldn’t even make the play-in if the season ended today, so if they want to have any chance of making a late push, they can’t mess this deadline up.
Still, things didn’t work out with Butler once, so don’t expect Philadelphia to beg for a second chance with the disgruntled star.
Nikola Vucevic gets a chance to “win now” with Warriors
Dec 5, 2024; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic (9) falls on top of San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan (10) during the first half at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images If you watched the Bulls’ 122-100 loss to the Boston Celtics on Wednesday night, you would have seen Vucevic, Chicago’s center, getting torched on back-door cuts, leisurely making his way up and down the floor and riding the bench for the entire fourth quarter.
This guy is checked out. And he hasn’t been shy expressing how he feels about being with the Bulls.
“I’m getting closer to the end of my career,” Vucevic told the Chicago Tribune. “I would like to be somewhere that’s in win-now mode.”
Golden State certainly isn’t the dynasty it once was, but it has a better chance of making a deep playoff run than Chicago does, especially if the Bulls get rid of Zach LaVine at the deadline, too.
