Fox refused to allow the Kings to extend his contract with an early salary cap in order to get a bigger salary cap increase
Fox, the Sacramento Kings' leading guard, averaged 30 points, four rebounds, and six assists per game in the 2023-24 season. He led the Kings back to the playoffs in the 2022-23 season, and he also received a lot of attention. He has led the Kings to the top of the season and is currently ranked 6th in the West, continuing to compete for a playoff spot, hoping to lead the team to the playoffs.
According to U.S. media reports, in the 2023 offseason, Fox rejected the team's request for a contract extension, and he turned down a two-year contract worth $105 million with a super maximum salary. According to NBA insider Chris Haynes, Fox is not renewing his contract with the Kings early, not because he intends to leave the Kings, but because Fox thinks he should be able to get a bigger contract.
Fox is pushing the envelope, and he hopes to make himself to the All-Star team in 2023-24 so he qualifies for a Supermax contract, which could be worth close to $245 million. Fox is only 25 years old, and judging by his 30-point average this season, this contract is not too big. After all, the Celtics' Jaylen Brown got a $300 million super-max contract.
Judging from the current record of the Kings, it is definitely a good deal to renew Fox with a super cap salary. However, given the team's salary space, the Kings will still hesitate. Fox's current contract doesn't expire until the 2024-25 season, and his current annual salary for the 2023-24 season is $32 million, which is $2 million more expensive next season.
You must know that the Kings offered Sabonis a big five-year, $217 million contract in the offseason, and the Kings have established their future interior core. Moreover, they offered Harris Barnes a three-year, $54 million contract in the offseason. The Kings also have to consider renewing Malik Monk's contract, and with Malik Monk's performance, the future annual salary is around $25 million to $35 million.
For Fox, playing better and getting a big contract with a longer annual salary before the 2025-26 season is what he wants most. For the Kings, they now have the quality to make the playoffs, but they don't have the strength to make the Finals, which is why the Kings may refuse to give Fox a bigger contract.
In the 2023 offseason, Anthony Davis signed a three-year, $180 million super-cap salary, which also made many stars believe that they can get a bigger contract and that they are worth that big.