With a player option coming up in 2027-2028, both the Sacramento Kings and Malik Monk have some talking to do over this season. If 2026-2027 goes well, Monk might hang around. If not, no one can blame him for exploring free agency as he's more than earned the right to find a spot that fits him.
After watching the Kings' 2025-2026 season, anyone confused about the club's stance on Monk should be forgiven. Prior to that lost campaign, Monk was Sacramento's core Sixth Man. He would often come off the bench to ignite the offense with a flurry of baskets that kept them in the game.
Last season was much different. Rookie head coach Doug Christie seemingly couldn't figure out what to do with Monk. He would go for weirdly long stretches as a healthy scratch, then suddenly get good minutes. There was no discernable pattern or connection to Sacramento's endless injuries.
Part of the issue may have been the fact that Monk is an average defender on a good day. Christie is laser-focused on defense, so he simply might not have been interested in utilizing Monk. There were half-hearted attempts to trade him early in the season, but the Kings really weren't trying very hard.
The ball is in Monk's court
Monk's current contract is up after the 2027-2028 season, with that final year being a player option. His extension window opened on July 6, 2026, and remains open through October 20, 2026. The window would reopen on July 6, 2027, though Monk has the opportunity to exercise that option.
If 2026-2027 is as inconsistent for him as 2025-2026 was, it wouldn't be a surprise to see him decline the option and explore free agency. The Kings had trouble trading him, but that was because their attempts were half-hearted at best and not because of a lack of interest in the player.
Monk is a great shooting guard off the bench who can also fill in as a secondary point guard when needed. There are a lot of teams that could use a guy like Monk as a backup scorer who can get in the game and add 15 to 17 points to the scoreboard on a regular basis. Assuming he gets the minutes.
Under Christie, Monk's average minutes on the court dropped by nearly 10, and his stats followed. If another team is willing to use Monk properly and give him consistent time on the court, there's no doubt that the 28-year-old's numbers will increase. Frankly, a change in scenery might do him good.
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