This summer, the Sacramento Kings have a major contributor on the roster hitting the free agency market, that being seven-year veteran guard Malik Monk. After leading the way in this season's Sixth Man of the Year race, opposing teams around the NBA will have their chance to acquire his services this coming offseason.
Monk has exploded onto the scene this year in his second season with Sacramento, posting career highs in points (15.9) and assists (5.3) per game. Any franchise coveting an offensive spark plug this summer would gladly welcome the addition of the former Kentucky Wildcat onto their squad. However, considering the substantial impact he's provided for the Kings off the bench, it'll be much easier said than done to pry him away from their hands.
It all makes for an intriguing situation to keep track of as we approach the soon-to-come free agency period, but Monk himself has seemed to make it clear what his intentions are heading into the offseason.
During an interview with Anthony Slater of The Athletic, Monk says the results of the looming playoffs may have an impact on his decision-making, but he would "love" to be in Sacramento long-term:
“Depends on what we do in the postseason, as well. But I’d love to be here, man. Got comfortable here. Made a lot of new friends, met a lot of great people. The city loves me. I love the city. So, yeah, I’d love to come back."
After being brought into Sacramento two seasons ago after his stint with the Los Angeles Lakers, it seems Monk has grown to love his new home. He's been a vital piece of the Kings' recent resurgence into competitiveness and has since revived his career as one of the league's premier reserve talents.
The core of Monk, with De'Aaron Fox, Domantas Sabonis, and Keegan Murray, has developed into one of the most explosive offensive units the league has to offer. While their success in 2023-24 hasn't lived up to the heights they saw a season ago, this collection of guys can be a deadly scoring combination on any given night.
The future is unpredictable, especially with the NBA, but if Monk had it his way, his intentions with the Kings seem clear. Keep a keen eye on how the rest of this season shakes out for Sacramento, as it will inevitably have substantial consequences how the team moves forward in this critical offseason.
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