Kings’ Fox cashes in
Cypress Lakes graduate De’Aaron Fox agrees to a max deal to stay with the Sacramento Kings. The five-year contract will pay the guard at least $163million.
On the first night of free agency, De’Aaron Fox was the first big winner.
The Cypress Lakes product agreed to a max deal to the stay with the Sacramento Kings, agent Chris Gaston said Friday night. It’s a five-year pact that will pay the speedy young point guard at least $163 million, a figure that could rise to nearly $200 million if Fox makes an All-NBA team or earns other league honors.
Fox’s numbers have improved in each of his three NBA seasons. He averaged 11.6 points as a rookie, then 17.3 points two seasons ago, and finally 21.1 points last season for the Kings.
Fox’s extension will kick in for the 2021-22 season and start at $28.1million.
NBA free agency opened at 5 p.m. Friday. No deals can be signed until 11:01 a.m. Sunday, and many of the biggest available names — such as the Lakers’ Anthony Davis, Boston’s Gordon Hayward and Toronto’s Fred Van-Vleet — didn’t make immediate decisions.
A breakdown of Friday’s moves:
• In a move that could have championship implications, Sixth Man of the Year Montrezl Harrell agreed to leave the Los Angeles Clippers for the Lakers. The former Rocket reportedly agreed to a two-year, $19 million deal.
The 6-foot-7 forwardcenter averaged careerhighs of 18.6 points and 7.1 rebounds last season, but he struggled in the postseason, averaging just 10.5 points and 2.9 rebounds in the playoffs.
Harrell’s agent is Rich Paul, who also represents Davis and LeBron James. Harrell turned down a larger offer from the Charlotte Hornets, sources said.
Harrell will replace veteran center Dwight Howard, who’s heading to the Philadelphia 76ers on a one-year deal worth the veteran’s minimum of $2.6 million.
The Lakers also agreed to a one-year, $3.6 million deal with shooting guard Wesley Matthews, who played for the Bucks last season.
As for the Clippers, they did keep forward Marcus Morris on a four-year, $64 million deal and also are bringing back reserve forward Patrick Patterson.
• Forward Danilo Gallinari agreed to a three-year, $61.5 million deal with Atlanta. Gallinari averaged 18.7 points for Oklahoma City last season and is a 38 percent career shooter from 3-point range.
• The Miami Heat got quick agreements from point guard Goran Dragic and center Meyers Leonard on two-year deals that include team options for the second season. Dragic will make about $18 million next season, Leonard about $9 million.
• Free agent sharpshooter Joe Harris agreed to a four-year, $75 million deal to return to the Brooklyn Nets and help provide spacing for Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. Harris averaged a career-high 14.5 points per game last season while shooting 42.5 percent from 3-point range.
• Forward Davis Bertans agreed to a five-year, $80 million deal to stay with the Washington Wizards. Bertans, who opted out of the NBA’s restart in July, averaged 15.4 points per game last and shot 42.3 percent from long range last season.
• Jordan Clarkson is staying in Utah on a fouryear, $52 million deal. The combo guard averaged 15.6 points in 42 games after getting traded from Cleveland last December.
• The Minnesota Timberwolves reached a threeyear, $60 million agreement with restricted free agent shooting guard Malik Beasley that includes a team option for a fourth year.
• The Detroit Pistons agreed with forward Jerami Grant on a three-year, $60 million contract. Grant averaged 12 points per game with Denver last season.
• The Spurs and Jakob Poeltl are finalizing a threeyear, $27 million deal to keep the defensive-minded Austrian center in San Antonio.
• Swingman Rodney Hood is staying with the Portland Trail Blazers on a two-year, $21 million deal, ESPN reported. The second year is nonguaranteed.
The Blazers also are luring forward Derrick Jones Jr., the league’s reigning Slam Dunk champion, away from the Heat.
• Forward Justin Holiday is staying in Indiana after agreeing to a three-year, $18 million deal.
• Garrett Temple agreed to a one-year, $5 million deal with the Chicago Bulls after the Nets declined his player option.
• Guard Alec Burks, who split last season between Golden State and Philadelphia, agreed to a one-year, $6 million deal with the New York Knicks.
• The Dallas Mavericks and guard Trey Burke agreed on a three-year, $10 million contract after he played well in the NBA bubble.
• Guard Pat Connaughton agreed to a two-year, $8.3 million contract to return to the Bucks.