The Sacramento Kings moving Dennis Schroeder and Keon Ellis wasn't much of a shock to fans and pundits. According to Malik Monk, it also wasn't really a shock to anyone on the roster. In a recent interview, he said that both players wanted out. If that's the case, the trade makes even more sense.
Full Malik Monk quote where he said Keon Ellis and Dennis Schroder “wanted to go.” https://t.co/r06RAHVb4A pic.twitter.com/CtbdAD7nBG
— Brenden Nunes (@BrendenNunesNBA) February 3, 2026
Keon Ellis and Dennis Schroder joined the Kings in two very different ways, yet ended up in the exact same place. Ellis went undrafted in 2022 but was signed by Sacramento. He spent the better part of four seasons with the team, though they never put real effort into developing the young player.
On the other hand, Schroder was drafted by the Hawks in 2013 and was eventually traded to the Kings in the 2025 offseason. There were a few other stops between those two teams. He ended up being a guard on a roster overloaded with guards, and never really found a rhythm in Sacramento.
Despite major expectations from fans and a lot of rumors, the only move the Kings got done before the trade deadline included sending both Ellis and Schroder to the Cavaliers. Based on what Malik Monk has had to say since then, neither player was all too broken up about it.
It wasn't just the Kings who wanted the trade
Often considered to be the heart and soul of the Kings, Malik Monk is quite confident that both Ellis and Schroder were ready to go. That's probably not too far from the truth being that neither player was living their best lives in Sacramento, and moving to the Cavaliers is definitely a step up.
#Cavs Dennis Schroder on holding LA to 91 points Wednesday: "Holding them under 50 points in a half, we didn’t have that in Sac for a long time. A really competitive group here that wants to play defense, share the ball and play fast. I love it. I feel comfortable already"
— Chris Fedor (@ChrisFedor) February 5, 2026
Even after only one game with Cleveland, Schroder seems like he's already in a much better place. His comments definitely highlight some very real issues the Kings have, which were likely driving Dennis nuts. He's actually a solid defender, so playing for the Kings would have been tough.
The Ellis situation was a bit different. He was with the Kings for a lot longer than Schroder, and had real problems trying to get off the bench under Doug Christie's leadership. Everyone in the league saw his potential and knew he had to get away from Sacramento to grow into it.
While they were on the Kings for different amounts of time, it became apparent to both players that they had gone as far as they possibly could in Sactown. It's also undeniable that they have taken a step up by moving to the Cavaliers, an actual contender with real championship hopes.