1. Monk could have already played his last game in a Kings uniform
Malik Monk’s upcoming free agency is a big concern for most Kings fans. He is beloved in Sacramento due to his energy and charisma, and there are few affordable players out there with the same skill set.
Monk is one of the team’s most important playmakers and scorers, providing a punch off the bench. In an ideal world, he would be a King for the next couple of years and become a part of the core. De’Aaron Fox, Domantas Sabonis, and Keegan Murray are all under contract through the 2025-26 season. Adding Monk to that group would make for an interesting core.
The Kings can only offer him a very specific amount of money around $17 million, however. Other teams could offer him more if they really wanted to. That alone could be a motivation for Monk to leave Sacramento in free agency, no matter how much he loves the city.
In a recent interview with The Athletic, Monk said the Kings’ postseason would also impact his decision. He wants to compete at the highest level, and if he doesn’t think he can do that in Sacramento, he might just find another team, like the Orlando Magic, to give him that chance.
Ironically, it seems that his injury might be the very thing keeping the Kings from making the playoffs this season. With him and Fox both playing at the highest level, the Kings would stand a chance to battle their way through the Play-In Tournament. Without Monk, who was incredible in last year’s playoffs, that looks much different.
If things don’t go well from here on out, Monk might have already played his last game in a Kings uniform, and that would be disastrous for the Kings. Who could they get to replicate what he has done for the team these past two seasons? If the pick they owe Atlanta doesn’t convey, their ability on the trade market is very limited, and they already have other holes to fill this summer.