4 Free agents the Kings might have to replace Malik Monk with
By Elaine Blum
1. Delon Wright
The Sacramento Kings were reportedly already interested in Delon Wright at the trade deadline. He is a capable playmaker and scorer, even though he doesn’t take many shots, with more experience than either Davion Mitchell or Keon Ellis.
In his previous stint with the Kings, Wright averaged 10 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.6 steals over 27 games. He is a solid defender and would have been a nice addition to the team’s depth at the trade deadline.
When it comes to potentially having to fill Malik Monk’s spot, it is a whole different story, however. Wright would be a big downgrade in every aspect of the game, and unless Keon Ellis and/or Davion Mitchell were to take a huge jump, the Kings would be in some serious trouble.
The veteran is on an incredibly cheap contract, which would allow the Kings some financial flexibility, but Sacramento is not the kind of market that attracts big names anyway. Wright is certainly an option to get in free agency, especially if Mitchell might be on his way out in a trade, but he would be a pretty poor replacement for Monk.
So, let’s just hope that it doesn't come down to this. No one will bring exactly what Monk does for the Kings, but if he truly decides to leave, there are more impactful options out there.