Grading The Trade: The Three-Team Trade Involving De’Aaron Fox and Zach LaVine
February 3rd, 2024
By Alan Lu
The Sacramento Kings have been having a tumultuous season in which the wheels had seemed to fall almost all the way off for them. After a sluggish start to the season, they fired their head coach Mike Brown and hired Doug Christie to be the interim, and there were rumblings that De’Aaron Fox wanted to be a San Antonio Spur if he were to be traded (https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10152611-deaaron-fox-trade-rumors-spurs-are-preferred-landing-spot-amid-nets-links).
The Kings have been hovering around the play-in tournament range, and with the Fox trade rumors swirling, they decided to send him to San Antonio in a blockbuster three-team deal that netted them Zach LaVine, Sidy Cissoko, and a bevy of first and second round picks. Meanwhile, the Spurs get an All-Star caliber point guard in De’Aaron Fox that they can pair with their transcendent superstar big man Victor Wembanyama, while the Chicago Bulls get out from under Zach LaVine’s hefty contract by adding a slew of role players and a draft pick.
So who made out the best? Here, I will examine what each of the teams received, and will seek to hand out grades to each of the teams that participated in making this trade happen.
(X/@ShamsCharania)
The San Antonio Spurs received:
De’Aaron Fox was one of the major names that were traded in a three-team deal between San Antonio, Sacramento, and Chicago, along with Zach LaVine, and Fox could give San Antonio a significant boost both this season and for the foreseeable future. (Photo: Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images, via Bleacher Report)
De’Aaron Fox and Jordan McLaughlin
The Spurs get a speedy, playmaking All-Star caliber point guard that is one of the better starting point guards in this league, and Fox will be a credible second star that can both generate offense for himself and his teammates, and he can get Wembanyama easier looks as he can find him on lobs to make the Spurs’ offense more dynamic. Jordan McLaughlin has been a solid backup point guard in previous seasons, but he’s struggled to get playing time or to consistently make an impact this year.
The Spurs did give up plenty of draft picks though, as well as their steady and reliable, but unspectacular point guard Tre Jones to get De’Aaron Fox, but it could be worth it to make the upgrade at the point, even if they gave up four first round picks in the process. Still, giving up four first round picks is considerable, but it seems that it could be worth the gamble. And best of all, the Spurs didn’t have to trade away Stephon Castle, their prized rookie whose name had floated around in trade rumors, or other talented young players that have been crucial to the Spurs that also could help them for a long time. So, in examining the Spurs’ haul, it seems that they did a good job of getting the guy they wanted, even if it meant having to sacrifice first round picks in the process.
Trade Grade for the San Antonio Spurs: B+
The Sacramento Kings Received:
Zach LaVine is a talented two-time All-Star guard that was traded to the Sacramento Kings, and while he may be on a hefty contract, he could give the Kings a dynamic scoring option to help make back the loss of Fox. (Photo: Tommy Gilligan/USA Today Sports, via Fansided’s Hoops Habit)
Zach LaVine, Sidy Cissoko, three first round picks (2025 CHA, 2027 SAS, 2031 MIN), three second round picks (2025 CHI, 2028 DEN, 2028 own back)
The Kings dealt away their long-time star point guard De’Aaron Fox amidst a tumultuous season where they made an unexpected coaching change, but they were able to get a handful of draft picks, a former star player that has had injury issues in Zach LaVine, and a promising young player that has seldom played at the NBA level in Sidy Cissoko.
After having a down, injury-riddled 2023-24 season for the Bulls, LaVine had a surge in production this year, as he’s shooting the ball much better, and his production has been up nearly across the board. Still, he’s still on a sizable contract in which he’ll make almost $45 million this year, and he has two years plus a player option left. Still, he gives the Kings a solid player that can contribute at a star level, at least on the offensive end, and Cissoko is a promising project player whose size, athleticism, playmaking, and defensive skills may make him a player worth playing late in the season and for future seasons. Overall, the Kings received a talented mix of players and picks that can help lessen the blow of trading Fox away.
Trade Grade For The Sacramento Kings: B
The Chicago Bulls Received:
Kevin Huerter is having arguably the worst season of his career, as his shooting percentages are surprisingly way down, as he’s made 41% of his field goals, just 30% of his threes, and 71% of his free throws for Sacramento this season before being traded to Chicago. Can Huerter bounce back to help the Bulls justify this trade? Will the pick the Bulls received pan out? Time will tell.
(Photo: Mitchell Leff/Getty Images, via Fansided’s Soaring Down South)
Kevin Huerter, Tre Jones, Zach Collins, their own 2025 pick via SAS
The Bulls made an interesting and curious choice to unload Zach LaVine’s contract by netting a trio of solid, but unspectacular role players headlined by Kevin Huerter, and they get their own 2025 first round pick back from San Antonio.
Kevin Huerter is a movement shooter that has operated well as a 3 and D swingman in previous seasons, but is currently having a down season as he struggled with the Kings this year prior to being traded. Tre Jones is a steady playmaker that can start or come off the bench, and he can add plus-level defensive play, but outside shooting is a major weakness of his. Zach Collins is an offensive-minded big man that can offer some energy, but is mostly an otherwise run-of-the-mill backup center in this league. The Bulls do get their own pick back, but that they didn’t get multiple first round picks after trading away LaVine may infuriate some of their fans that were expecting more out of this trade. Overall, this trade may hinge on if Huerter can get his jump shot back. As for now, I’m predicting that Kevin Huerter will be able to be an above break-even three-pointer by the season’s end, and that he’ll see an uptick in production next season to make this trade more palatable for the Bulls’ fans. If he can get his jump shot back, Huerter could add a really exciting, movement shooter component to the Bulls’ offense, but that’s a big if.
Trade Grade For The Chicago Bulls: B-
Overall, here are the trade grades for the teams that were involved in making this trade:
San Antonio Spurs: B+
Sacramento Kings: B
Chicago Bulls: B-
Overall, this was a fun trade in which De’Aaron Fox was sent to the San Antonio Spurs, Zach LaVine was dealt to the Sacramento Kings, and a bevy of picks exchanged hands. It will be interesting to see how this all unfolds as the seasons progress to see who will have won the trade in the future. This was another blockbuster trade that was made, and we’ll see how well Wembanyama and Fox will play together, as there is a lot of hope in San Antonio that it will work out. As for Chicago’s return, the trade grade for them is based on my belief that Huerter will bounce back and shoot much better than he has so far this season, and if he doesn’t, well, then my trade grade for Chicago could end up looking rather foolish as a result. From how it looks, it seems that San Antonio made out the best in the deal with Sacramento also coming out pretty well, with Chicago’s end of the deal being up for debate. Anyways, hope you enjoyed reading this, and thanks for reading.