We’re a little more than a week away from the NBA trade deadline, and things are heating up. The Sacramento Kings are reportedly listening to offers for De’Aaron Fox, and the Miami Heat are expected to get in on the mix.
Fox reportedly has a preferred destination – widely believed to be the San Antonio Spurs. But Heat fans needn’t be distressed. With the way these things go, players tend to start with a target destination and then expand their list. I mean, do we really think Fox would balk at the chance to play with his college friend Bam Adebayo in South Beach?
The question is whether the Heat can put together a deal appealing to the Kings. Swapping Jimmy Butler for Fox would solve Miami’s biggest problem but, as ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported, Butler shouldn’t be expected to land in Sacramento.
Could the Heat put together a multi-team deal that turns the assets they get for Butler into Fox? That’s the tough part. Let’s go to the trade machine and give it a shot!
Butler to Milwaukee, Fox to Miami, Jaquez and picks to Sacramento
Miami gets: De’Aaron Fox, Bobby Portis
Sacramento gets: Khris Middleton, Jaime Jaquez Jr., 2030 first-round pick (from Miami), 2031 first-round pick (from Milwaukee), 2029 first-round pick swap (from Miami), 2026 second-round pick (from Lakers, via Miami)
Milwaukee gets: Jimmy Butler
Detroit gets: Pat Connaughton, 2031 second-round pick (from Milwaukee)
The Kings get two distant first-round picks by betting against the longterm futures of Miami and Milwaukee, plus a first-round pick swap and the Lakers’ 2026 second-rounder, while adding Jaime Jaquez Jr. from the Heat. Middleton can help keep the Kings in the playoff hunt this season and become a valuable expiring contract next season.
The Heat lose Jaquez and Butler, but they add Fox to pair with Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo.
Butler to Memphis, Fox to Miami, young players and picks to Sacramento
Miami gets: De’Aaron Fox, Luke Kennard, John Konchar, Jake LaRavia
Sacramento gets: Marcus Smart, Brandon Clarke, Jaime Jaquez Jr., GG Jackson, 2030 first-round pick (from Miami), 2029 first-round pick swap (from Miami), 2026 second-round pick (from Lakers, via Miami), 2025 first-round pick (from Memphis)
Memphis gets: Jimmy Butler, Trey Lyles, Josh Richardson
This 11-player mega deal gets the Kings more draft capital and useful players. They add Miami’s first in 2030 and swap in 2029 and an important first-round pick from Memphis for this June, when they currently don’t have a pick. The Kings also add helpful veterans in Smart and Clarke, plus two highly-regarded young players in Jaquez and Jackson.
The Grizzlies end up with Butler, but also add Lyles to help replace Clarke in the frontcourt. The Heat get Fox, the expiring contracts of Kennard and LaRavia, and Konchar for more backcourt depth.