Kevin Durant Targeting March 1st For Debut With Suns

The San Antonio Spurs were always thought to be the preferred trade destination of De’Aaron Fox, but he went a step forward in his public comments to indicate there was no list of other teams.

“There was no f—ing list,” Fox said. “There was one team. I wanted to go to San Antonio. So, a lot of people are mad at me, saying I handcuffed the team by giving them a destination. Well, this is my career. If anybody else is in my position, you’d do the same thing. It’s not my job to help build your team. I’m not about to just go where they want me to go. I wanted to have a destination.”

Fox was traded by the Sacramento Kings less than one week after reports surfaced that they would entertain a deal for him. The Kings had approached Fox’s agent, Rich Paul, on January 27th that they would listen to offers. Paul informed Fox and then the Kings sought him out in his hotel room to formally tell him.

“We’re sitting there trying to have the conversation, but I know what he’s about to tell me because Rich had already told me,” said Fox, who didn’t reveal which member of the organization he spoke with. “A reporter calls trying to break the story, but mind you, our GM hasn’t told me yet. So, it had already been told, even before I was told by our team.”

There continues to be a growing expectation that the Los Angeles Lakers will eventually hire J.J. Redick as head coach, but they have maintained a decision has not been reached and that they are still considering a number of candidates. While James Borrego is believed to be a serious candidate, the general expectation is that Redick will be hired.

“There’s a very strong attempt, maybe I’m giving away my feelings by saying an attempt,” said Brian Windhorst on The Hoop Collective Podcast. “There’s a very strong message coming out that the Lakers are still early in their process. That there’s still steps to be done. And that they’re being very thorough and there’s nothing to see here and don’t worry about that.

“Probably will have to wait until after The Finals,” interjected Tim MacMahon.

“Probably,” laughed Windhosrt. “I will report that is what I’m being told by multiple people. And Adrian Wojnarowski has reported the same thing: ‘We’re not at the checking the boxes, dotting the i’s and [crossing] the t’s. This is still very much a process and still up in the air.

“Then there is information out there otherwise involving J.J. Redick. I will just sit here and tell you my information on this is scattered. I have some people saying this is J.J. Redick’s job that I trust. I have some people saying this is a process that is not complete. I suspect I know something, but I’m just going to tell you that there’s multiple streams of information.

“James Borrego has had multiple meetings with the Lakers. I do think he’s a viable candidate for sure, but I think J.J. Redick is a very strong candidate. And he also is calling The Finals for our network on ABC and ESPN. So it is what it is.

“The Lakers knew for quite some time that they were going to probably change their coach. Rob Pelinka had a long time to evaluate what his situation and his candidates were. Wherever they are in their process, there’s no choice for them to put a lot of thought into this. I don’t think they have the most ideal set of candidates they may dream when replacing a head coach who has been successful. But I also think they have a pretty good idea of what they’re doing.”