Ex-Kings GM Regrets Passing on Luka Doncic Draft in Fear of Losing De'Aaron Fox

Divac said he traveled to Madrid to meet Luka Dončić a year before the 2018 draft, placing the Slovenian on Sacramento's wish list. He warned that drafting Dončić would have required trading De'Aaron Fox, altering the backcourt. Dončić was the No. 3 pick in 2018 with a four-year, $32.4 million rookie deal that rose to $10.1 million, while Fox began year two on a four-year, $24.57 million contract. Divac argued there would be no immediate cap obstacle to keeping both guards, given a $101 million ceiling. He cited Real Madrid ties dating to 2006 as a channel to Dončić, noting Dallas' larger TV market (2.963 million) versus Sacramento's (1.459 million).