It wasn't that long ago that trade talk surrounding Malik Monk was at its absolute peak. The Sacramento Kings were working overtime to trade him in an attempt to make room for Russell Westbrook. Fortunately for the Kings, that didn't plan out.
If a fan were pressed to select the heart and soul of the Kings' roster over the past few seasons, that person would be Malik Monk. Both on and off the court, this perennial Sixth Man of the Year contender has proven to be important to this franchise.
As such, it never quite made sense why the Kings' front office was so determined to trade him. While he is a talented player off the bench, his biggest value is off the court and in the locker room. That will be incredibly important leading into the 2025-2026 season.
Malik Monk does the work
When everything came crashing down on the Kings in the 2024-2025 season, Monk was there to help pick up the pieces. He stepped into the role of starting point guard and did everything he could to make it work. That being said, it was not a good fit, something he would likely be the first to admit.
Going into the next season, the likely choice for starting point guard is Dennis Schroder. He has 12 years of experience in the NBA and just came off an impressively successful EuroBasket run. That doesn't mean Mailk won't be there to back him up.
Malik Monk talks the speed, physicality, and competition at day 3 of Sacramento Kings training camp. pic.twitter.com/LGv2l7lK4r
— Matt George (@MattGeorgeSAC) October 2, 2025
Monk is at the forefront of Doug Christie's push for consistent intensity in all aspects of the game. But he also wants to keep the game fun in any way possible. Monk is known as a talker on the court, in the media, and in the locker room. The team needs to enjoy what they're doing to succeed.
Monk's importance to the Kings
Malik being a focal point for the fun and competitive spirit that will hopefully push the Kings to new heights this season is no coincidence. That type of morale building is a big part of what he brings to the table on any team, particularly in Sacramento.
Given the front office's attempts to trade him in the offseason, it seems like the Kings don't completely understand that value. Monk is the kind of guy to give a team a critical pass or hit a shot when it's needed most. He's also the guy who can keep a team's spirits high, which is valuable.