On Thursday night at the Golden 1 Center, a familiar face was spotted— someone with connections to both Lakers and Kings stars. With LeBron James’ trade rumors swirling and some latest links to Sacramento making the rounds, many would have guessed that Rich Paul was there to extend discussions about the 4-time champion’s potential trade. Well, that wasn’t the case. He did attend the game for trade discussions regarding his client but not LeBron’s rather, it was about De’Aaron Fox.

According to sources from The Athletic, Paul accompanied the point guard’s wife, Recee, during the game. However, he had a different purpose of visiting. Prior to the matchup, the NBA agent met Kings’ GM Monte McNair and assistant GM Wes Wilcox about Fox’s future with the franchise.

Reportedly, Fox has not shown any interest in a trade nor has he requested one, but his rejection of an extension raises questions. In an exclusive interview with CBS News, it was revealed that Paul has negotiated contracts worth over $4 billion. The figure would have increased if Fox had agreed to extend a $165 million deal with the Kings for three years.

“The former All-Star and his prominent agent are reading the room in Sacramento before deciding what comes next,” The Athletic’s Sam Amick wrote. “Fox, who hired Paul in November 2022, has another season left on his current deal. He has long raved about the Sacramento experience, lauding the passion of the fans and saying that he wants to be one of the few NBA players who spends their entire career in one location.”

Fox has also gone on record stating that his ultimate goal is to add a championship title to his name. “For me, it’s ‘Are we looking like we’re continuing to get better year after year, and ‘Are we going to be able to compete at a high level?” the 27-year-old said on The Draymond Green Show with Baron Davis. That surely seems like a difficult task for the Kings who currently have a 13-15 record after the loss against the Lakers.

While Fox wants to remain a one-team player and he has been since 2017, he can’t sacrifice his desire to win the title. If that means packing his bags and ending his terms with Sacramento, he might have to do so. Amid the complicated situation, a potential suitor has emerged for Fox.

Trade alarms ring around De’Aaron Fox from West

Who wouldn’t want to add De’Aaron Fox to their roster? Swipa is one of the finest assets this season, averaging 26.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, 6.1 assists, and 1.7 steals. He has the pace, ball-handling skills, a versatile scoring ability, and remarkable playmaking skills, making him a vital player in tight games. With these attributes, he could fit seamlessly into multiple franchises. However, there seems to be one particular team showing more interest in him.

Sam has further highlighted, “Rival executives are monitoring the Fox situation closely and league sources say one team in particular — the San Antonio Spurs — is positioning itself to pursue the Houston native.”

The Spurs are actively seeking a partner for Victor Wembanyama, and De’Aaron Fox appears to be their ideal choice. With the French center already establishing himself as a powerhouse talent, adding Fox to the roster would provide the team with even greater depth and strength.

But the Kings certainly won’t let their Western Conference rivals snatch him away so easily. How they manage to hold on to Fox will be interesting to watch. For now, keep an eye on the trade window, as his future with the team remains uncertain.