Miami Heat: Jaden Ivey A Bridge To Landing De’Aaron Fox At NBA Draft?

DeAaron Fox #5 of the Sacramento Kings drives to the basket against Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat(Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images)
DeAaron Fox #5 of the Sacramento Kings drives to the basket against Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat(Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images)
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Miami Heat
Tyrese Haliburton #0 and De’Aaron Fox #5 of the Sacramento Kings look on in the second half against the Miami Heat(Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

Miami Heat: Jaden Ivey A Bridge To Landing De’Aaron Fox At NBA Draft?

Ivey is turning into the type of player a franchise selects fourth, following the collection of the consensus top three picks. But there is one massive problem, the Sacramento Kings own that pick.

There is also another massive problem for the Kings. Ivey, a guard, would join a room that already is being led by Kings’ point guard, De’Aaron Fox.

If history is any guide, it could be a major issue. In 2020, Sacramento selected Tyrese Haliburton 12th overall just a few months before Fox signed his max extension.

In 2021, the Kings took another guard, Davion Mitchell, ninth overall in the NBA Draft. The Kentucky guard started the 2021-2022 season in a crowded backcourt, posting some of his worst averages in points and assists per game in November and December since his sophomore campaign.

Fox barely got better in January. In February, the Kings shipped Haliburton to Indiana and Fox responded with a monster bounceback.

Fox averaged 27 points and six assists in February and then posted 30 and seven in March.

Clearly, the ball-dominant guard does not play nice with a loaded backcourt. All of this puts the Kings in a fascinating spot.