After being eliminated in the NBA play-in tournament due to a 105-98 loss against the New Orleans Pelicans, the Sacramento Kings need to improve their roster around De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis. Part of maintaining a competitive roster involves retaining talent.
Malik Monk became a name to monitor since he was set to reach free agency this summer. However, the Kings have already solidified his future with the team. According to ESPN, he plans to sign a four-year, $78 million contract that includes a player option.
Negotiations between Monk and the Kings began after the Boston Celtics’ victory over the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals. The team aimed clearly to secure Monk the best possible contract and avoid the uncertainties of the free agency market.
Monk has been a standout player for the Kings over the past two seasons. Under the guidance of head coach Mike Brown and alongside his former college teammate Fox, Monk has shown consistent improvement.
Monk averaged 13.5 points and 3.9 assists two years ago, and this past season, he reached career highs with 15.1 points and 5.1 assists per game, proving to be one of the most impactful bench players in the NBA.
Originally drafted 10th overall by the Charlotte Hornets in the 2017 NBA draft, Monk’s career trajectory has seen a significant uptick since joining the Kings.
Finishing fifth in Sixth Man of the Year voting two years ago and second this past season, Monk rejuvenated his career with the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2021-22 season after a lackluster start to his career with the Hornets. His success with the Lakers led to a two-year contract with the Kings, and he now looks to remain a crucial part of Sacramento’s core.
Monk’s backcourt partner, Fox, commented on his free agency, expressing hope that the Kings would retain him. Surely, Fox will be glad about the outcome.
“Him being able to be in this situation and obviously having multiple teams that are trying to come after him, I’m definitely happy for him. Obviously, we want him to stay but, at the end of the day, he has to do what’s best for him,” Fox told reporters.
If the Kings want to take the next step, they must get creative and identify ways to enhance the roster. The Western Conference continues to be a challenging landscape to navigate.
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