With the Feb. 10 NBA trade deadline fast approaching, the Kings (18-28) could be in the market to make a big move that will propel them toward their first playoff berth since 2006.
Any move, however, reportedly won't include star guard De'Aaron Fox, as The Athletic's Shams Charania reported Wednesday that Sacramento's "current mindset" is to keep Fox and build a team around him and second-year guard Tyrese Haliburton.
Chatter about Fox's long-term future in Sacramento has swirled all season, and the Sacramento Bee's Jason Anderson reported Wednesday that the Kings had "stepped up their pursuit" of Indiana Pacers big man Domantas Sabonis and would be willing to include Fox in a deal.
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SIGN UP HERE Charania reported Wednesday, citing team sources, that a Fox-for-Sabonis deal would not happen.
While Fox might not be on the block, the same reportedly can't be said for a number of other Kings.
It has been widely reported that the Kings are among the teams interested in Philadelphia 76ers star Ben Simmons, and Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer reported Wednesday that the Kings have considered a package of Buddy Hield, Haliburton, Harrison Barnes, and two first-round picks in exchange for Simmons, Tobias Harris and Matisse Thybulle. According to Pompey, the 76ers are not interested in making that deal.
But The Athletic's Sam Amick reported Wednesday that taking back Harris and his $32.74 million annual salary is not something the Kings are interested in at this point.
This is all to say that the Kings and 76ers are trying to leverage the other into making a deal, and neither side appears ready to budge at the moment.
All this comes as the Kings try to scratch and claw their way back into the playoff picture in a down Western Conference.
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The Kings currently are 1.5 games behind the Portland Trail Blazers for 10th place in the West, but only 2.5 games ahead of the Oklahoma City Thunder, who sit in 14th place.
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As for Fox, the star guard isn't letting all the trade rumors get to him as he tries to right the ship in Sacramento.
"I think in most sports most players come up in trade talks," Fox told reporters at shootaround Tuesday, via ABC10. "Obviously, you don't have too many people that are really untouchable so you always know something can happen.
"I go play basketball. There's nothing I can do about it. I handle whatever I can handle. I control what I can control."
Fox and the Kings will look to start to turn their fortunes around Wednesday night when they host the Detroit Pistons at Golden 1 Center.