Kings’ 2025 NBA Trade Deadline Grade Following De’Aaron Fox-Zach LaVine Swap
The Sacramento Kings faced a tough situation at the trade deadline after star point guard De’Aaron Fox requested a trade, limiting their options. Ultimately, they sent Fox to the San Antonio Spurs in a three-team deal involving the Chicago Bulls, receiving Zach LaVine, Sidy Cissoko, three first-round picks, and three second-round picks in return.
The Kings then flipped part of their haul for additional help, trading Cissoko and two second-rounders to the Washington Wizards for center Jonas Valančiūnas. Additionally, they acquired young wing Jake LaRavia from the Memphis Grizzlies to bolster their perimeter shooting.
With Fox gone, Sacramento lacked a true point guard, forcing Malik Monk to share ball-handling duties with LaVine and DeMar DeRozan. In response, the Kings signed free-agent guard Markelle Fultz, a former No. 1 overall pick who struggled in Philadelphia but revived his career in Orlando. While not a prolific scorer, Fultz should contribute in multiple ways.
Following these moves, Sacramento’s roster looks quite different than it did at the start of February. The question remains: did the team improve, regress, or stay the same? Let’s analyze their new-look squad and its potential impact.
Kings Maintain Status Quo After Major Trade
Since swapping De’Aaron Fox for Zach LaVine, the Kings have gone 3-3, with their performance largely resembling their play before the trade. LaVine has taken on some of Fox’s duties while also thriving off the ball, but the team remains around .500, boasting a strong offense but a weak defense.
Offensively, Sacramento continues to thrive despite lacking a true point guard, as LaVine creates his own shots and remains highly effective. However, the defensive struggles persist. While the Kings’ fast-paced style contributes to high-scoring games, their individual defenders still underperform.
The additions of LaRavia and Valančiūnas haven’t significantly improved the defense, as neither is known for elite defensive abilities. While LaVine and LaRavia help compensate for Kevin Huerter’s absence by improving floor spacing, defensive issues remain. In LaVine’s six games with Sacramento, the team has allowed 125+ points in three of them.
Approaching the All-Star break, the Kings sit at 28-27, tied for 9th place in the Western Conference. They’re just 3.5 games behind the sixth seed, keeping playoff hopes alive. If Fultz can stabilize the offense and Valančiūnas strengthens the middle, the Kings could become more balanced. However, defensive weaknesses will likely prevent them from reaching their full potential.
Ultimately, these deadline moves may not have significantly altered the Kings’ trajectory. Still, given their limited leverage after Fox’s trade request, Sacramento managed to acquire another star and make strategic adjustments. LaVine is under contract through next season with a player option for 2026-27, giving the Kings a window to build around this core in the coming years.