The Haliburton trade, Fox requesting out, and why Sacramento’s entire foundation needs a controlled demolition
Let’s stop pretending: the Sacramento Kings are broken. Not quirky. Not “building.” Not “retooling.” Broken. They’ve started the season 3–9, and it looks every bit as ugly as that record suggests. The brief playoff high is dead, the optimism was fake, and the future has already left the building.
The fuse? The Haliburton trade. The explosion? De’Aaron Fox requesting out and finally getting his wish in February. And now? Nothing but smoke, bad contracts, and a roster so poorly constructed it should come with a hazard label.
It all started in 2022, when the Kings shipped out Tyrese Haliburton—young, elite vision, ascending as one of the smartest guards in the league—for Domantas Sabonis. It was the type of trade that only makes sense if you don’t watch basketball or if you think vibes matter more than fit. Haliburton has become a legit franchise centerpiece in Indiana. Sabonis? A stats guy who doesn’t space the floor or protect the rim—two absolute musts for modern bigs.
But Sacramento didn’t stop there. They doubled down on weird roster choices, loading up on “names” with no regard for actual synergy. Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan came in with big reputations and small impact. LaVine scores, sure—but inefficiently, and without ever guarding anyone. DeRozan still puts up midrange highlights that look good on social media, but the game has moved on. Neither can carry a team. And they’re definitely not carrying this one.
And then Fox made the inevitable move.
After eight years of loyalty, carrying a team with no direction and no long-term plan, he finally requested out—and the Kings granted it in February. Can you blame him? They gave him a revolving door of coaches, overlapping guards, and a future that never showed up. The second San Antonio came calling with structure, a generational talent like Victor Wembanyama, and a competent front office, Fox didn’t hesitate. You’d have to be crazy to stay in Sacramento long-term.
So what’s left?
A maxed-out, slow-footed big who shrinks in the playoffs. An offense ranked 25th in offensive efficiency and a defense ranked 27th. A bench that might as well not exist. Keegan Murray is the only young piece with real upside—and he’s being buried under the weight of a roster built for 2016.
The Kings don’t have cap flexibility. They don’t have surplus draft picks. They don’t have a lead initiator. They don’t have rim protection. And after Fox forced his way out, they don’t have a star.
They do, however, have problems.
This isn’t a team that needs tweaking. This is a teardown job. Sabonis should be on the block yesterday. LaVine and DeRozan should be shipped to some desperate contender with an owner chasing headlines. Murray should be protected like a rare species. Everyone else? Available. Expiring. Gone.
The Kings tried to skip the line. They thought they could outsmart the process by swapping potential for polish. They made flashy moves for casual fans and got burned. They ignored fit, ignored age curves, ignored the modern game—and now they’re staring at the wreckage of a team that peaked with a 7-seed.
This isn’t a playoff team. It’s not even a play-in team. This is a top-of-the-lottery team — bloated, broken, and barreling toward irrelevance. And with Fox gone, it’s officially directionless.
The Kings have two options: blow it up now, or keep riding a broken elevator that only goes down.
Pick fast — because the longer they wait, the worse it gets.
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