Fox and Kings agree on $ 163 million deal
On the first night of free agency, De’Aaron Fox was the first huge winner. Huge, as in $ 163 million — or even more.
Fox and the Sacramento Kings agreed on a max deal Friday, agent Chris Gaston said. It’s a fiveyear pact that will pay Fox $ 163 million, and that figure could rise to nearly $ 200 million if Fox makes an AllNBA 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 202122 season and start at $ 28.1 million.
Free agency opened in the NBA on Friday at 3 p. m. No deals can be signed until 12: 01 p. m. Sunday, and many of the biggest available names — such as the Lakers’ Anthony Davis and Fred VanVleet, who has seen his star rise meteorically with the Toronto Raptors — did not make immediate decisions on their futures.
Other moves Friday:
Hawks: Danilo Gallinari — one of the top wings on the freeagent market — reportedly agreed with Atlanta to a threeyear contract worth $ 61.5 million. Gallinari averaged 18.7 points for Oklahoma City last season and is a 38% career shooter from 3point range.
Nets: Joe Harris agreed to resign with the Nets, keeping one of the NBA’s best shooters in Brooklyn. ESPN reported that Harris would get $ 75 million over four years.
Mavericks: Dallas and Trey Burke agreed on a $ 10 million, threeyear contract to bring the guard back after he played well in the NBA bubble.
Nuggets: Argentine national team guard Facundo Campazzo reportedly agreed to a twoyear deal with Denver.
Pistons: Jerami Grant is headed from Denver to Detroit on a threeyear, $ 60 million deal.
Detroit also received commitments from centers Mason Plumlee ( reportedly three years, $ 20 million) from Denver and Jahlil Okafor from New Orleans.
Clippers: Marcus Morris is staying with Los Angeles on a fouryear deal, reportedly a $ 64 million contract.
Lakers: The defending NBA champions are adding Montrezl Harrell as a free agent from the Clippers.
76ers: Center Dwight Howard is going to join Philadelphia on a oneyear deal worth the veteran’s minimum of $ 2.6 million, after helping the Lakers win the NBA title.
Heat: The Eastern Conference champions got quick agreements from point guard Goran Dragic and center Meyers Leonard on twoyear deals, the second year in both cases being team options. Dragic will make about $ 18 million next season, Leonard about $ 9 million.
Timberwolves: Minnesota reportedly reached a $ 60 million agreement with restricted free agent shooting guard Malik Beasley for three years plus a team option for a fourth year.
Beasley, who was acquired from the Nuggets in a fourteam trade in February, was charged last month with drug possession and threats of violence in Hennepin County District Court, after allegedly aiming a rifle at a family in their vehicle outside his Minnesota home where a large amount of marijuana and other guns were seized during a police search.
Knicks: Alec Burks is the first free agent addition under Knicks President Leon Rose, reportedly on a $ 6 million, oneyear deal. Burks split last season between the Warriors and Philadelphia, averaging 15 points.
Magic: Orlando and guard Dwayne Bacon agreed on a oneyear deal for about $ 2.5 million, with a team option for 202122.
Trail Blazers: Derrick Jones Jr., the league’s reigning Slam Dunk champion with the Heat, agreed to a twoyear deal.
Jazz: Jordan Clarkson agreed to a fouryear, $ 52 million deal to stay in Utah and Derrick Favors — a post player who spent most of his NBA career in Utah before playing with New Orleans last season — returned on a deal worth nearly $ 30 million for three seasons.
Raptors in Florida: The Toronto Raptors will start the NBA season next month in Tampa, Fla., because of travel restrictions by the Canadian government stemming from the pandemic.