Kings Want Russell Westbrook As Sixth Man, Actively Shopping Malik Monk

The Sacramento Kings are eyeing a bold shakeup to their backcourt rotation, and Malik Monk may be the odd man out. According to a new report from the Dallas Hoops Journal, the Kings are “trying very hard” to find a trade partner for Monk in hopes of creating roster space to sign former MVP Russell Westbrook as their new sixth man.

“The Sacramento Kings have been ‘trying very hard’ to trade Malik Monk this offseason, but they haven’t found a taker,” wrote NBA insider Grant Afseth . "The Kings have been trying to trade Monk to open up a spot for Russell Westbrook, who is an unrestricted free agent. Sacramento wants to sign Westbrook and bring him off the bench as its sixth man behind Dennis Schroder.”

Following a ninth-place finish in the West last season (40-42), the Kings have responded with a flurry of roster changes. Their most notable losses include Jae Crowder, Markelle Fultz, Jake LaRavia, Trey Lyles, and Jonas Valanciunas. They also made several additions to the roster, including Dennis Schroder, Drew Eubanks, Dario Saric, and rookies such as Nique Clifford and Dylan Cardwell. 

With averages of 13.1 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game last season, Schroder has been tapped to play a starting role for the Kings, but they are still seeking a reliable backup behind him.

This is where Westbrook comes in. The future Hall of Famer and former MVP is currently unsigned as training camp draws near, and his market is being described as "limited" by league insiders. The 9x All-Star is set to turn 37 in November, and after years of struggling to find his place, there are whispers he could go unsigned through opening night.

The Kings are one of the few teams that are actively pursuing Westbrook, and they stand as his best chance to land on an NBA roster this summer. Even at this late stage of his career, the Kings believe Russ can provide a spark for them off the bench and thrive as the sixth man behind Dennis Schroder.

The only thing holding them back is Malik Monk. With an already crowded backcourt that includes Monk, Schroder, and Zach LaVine, the Kings will have to make room for Westbrook, and they're pushing hard to make a deal within the next few weeks.

For a team that's been on a steady decline for a few years now, it remains to be seen if/how Westbrook's arrival will impact their standing in the West. But with questionable shooting stability and a history of immaturity with his previous teams, there are doubts that he can make a positive difference for them.

If the deal goes through, it’ll mark Westbrook's fifth team in five seasons, a stark contrast from his glory days as the face of the Thunder. Still, the Kings believe there’s gas left in the tank, and with a clearly defined bench role, this could be one of the last chances for Russ to rewrite the final chapter of his career.

Whether or not that happens may hinge entirely on their ability to move Monk. Until then, Westbrook remains in limbo, and the Kings remain a team searching for an identity in a crowded Western Conference.