4 Teams that might snag Malik Monk from the Kings this summer
Malik Monk has been the Kings’ third-best performer this season. Coming off the bench, he delivers quick scoring, playmaking, and high intensity. In many ways, he is the team’s lifeblood.
He gets along well with the majority of the team’s players, and the fans love him. This Kings season has been plenty of drama—losses to poor teams, amazing overtime wins, Mike Brown delivering a meme-worthy news conference, and Keon Ellis bumping both Davion Mitchell and Kevin Huerter in the rotation—but the greatest one is yet to arrive.
Malik Monk will become an unrestricted free agent following the season. He has previously stated that he loves Sacramento and is willing to perform his position as the sixth man if it means the team wins. However, the Kings are only able to offer him a fixed sum of money.
Regardless of how strongly the front staff wants to keep him, other teams may just give him more money and possibly a starting job. It’s unclear what Monk loves more right now—money and a starting place, or being respected by the supporters and having a defined role in a system that has enabled him to thrive—and nothing is fixed in stone until he signs a new deal.
So, let’s look at four clubs who may take Malik Monk from the Kings this summer.
So, let’s look at four clubs who may take Malik Monk from the Kings this summer.
4. The Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic are ahead of schedule in their renovation. Few predicted they’d be a legitimate playoff team this season, but they are and will be for a long. Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, Jalen Suggs, Anthony Black, and Cole Anthony are all young players with potential.
They also have more money than Sacramento and are looking for a dynamic, seasoned ball handler. Overall, Orlando may be a desirable option for Malik Monk.
3. The Philadelphia Sixers
The Philadelphia 76ers’ season has not gone according to plan. James Harden wanted out, so they had to sell him off to the Los Angeles Clippers. Then Joel Embiid got hurt, and instead of being one of the top teams in the East, they are now in eighth place, poised for a Play-In Tournament appearance.
On the positive side, Tyrese Maxey has plenty of time to work on his game. He is a top guard in the East, averaging 25.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, 6.2 assists, and one steal per game.
Even with Embiid healthy, these two may not be enough, as they have yet to bring in another outstanding scorer and playmaker to replace James.
2. The San Antonio Spurs.
The San Antonio Spurs aren’t winning many games right now, but they do have one of the future greats on their team. Victor Wembanyama entered the league as one of the top NBA prospects ever, and he is already displaying indicators of a bright future that includes several Defensive Player of the Year and MVP trophies.
For such a young athlete, he is extremely competitive and conscious of his own abilities. He wants to win, and the Spurs must develop a squad around him that will allow him to accomplish so. The most critical aspect of this is having a skilled ball handler around him at all times.
Early in the season, the Spurs tried Jeremy Sochan.
1. The Toronto Raptors.
After trading Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby to Indiana and New York, the Toronto Raptors are preparing to rebuild. They have some intriguing young players in Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett, and Immanuel Quickley, but they aren’t winning anything this season.
They will have enough of cap room this summer to add pieces to their core. Malik Monk, with his ability to score, create for himself and others, and entirely shift the game’s energy, may be a valuable addition.
He might split playmaking responsibilities with Immanuel Quickley and inject some energy into the youthful team. The Raptors prefer to run similar setups to the Kings, including DHOs and high post moves. Monk excelled in Sacramento’s system, entirely altering his identity as an NBA player, and he may do the same in Toronto if the Raptors pursue him in free agency.
There would be defensive problems with him and Quickley in the same backcourt, but rumors suggest that the Raptors attempted to get Monk as part of a deal that would have sent Pascal Siakam to Sacramento. However, it appears like the Raptors are still a long way from being a playoff club, thus Monk may want to stay with the Kings.
