4 Teams that could steal Malik Monk from the Kings over the summer
By Elaine Blum
Malik Monk has been the Kings’ third-best player this season. Coming off the bench, he provides instant scoring, playmaking, and great energy. In many ways, he is the team’s heartbeat.
He has great chemistry with most players, and the fanbase loves him. This Kings’ season has been filled with plenty of drama—losses to bad teams, huge wins in overtime, Mike Brown putting on a meme-worthy press conference, and Keon Ellis jumping both Davion Mitchell and Kevin Huerter in the rotation—but the biggest one is yet to come.
After the season, Malik Monk will be an unrestricted free agent. He has said before that he loves Sacramento and is committed to playing his role as the sixth man if it means that the team is winning. The Kings can only offer him a very specific amount of money, however.
No matter how badly the front office wants to keep him around, other teams could simply offer him more money and maybe even a starting spot. There is no saying what Monk values more right now—money and a starting spot, or being beloved by the fanbase and having an established role in a system that has allowed him to thrive—and until he signs a new contract, nothing is set in stone.
So, let’s look at four teams that could steal Malik Monk from the Kings over the summer.
4. The Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic are ahead of schedule with their rebuild. Few expected them to be a legit playoff team this season, but they are and will be for a while. Between Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, Jalen Suggs, Anthony Black, and Cole Anthony, they have plenty of young talent and potential.
They also have more money to offer than Sacramento and could use a dynamic, experienced ball handler. All in all, Orlando could be an enticing destination for Malik Monk.
It has a similar small market vibe to Sacramento, long-term playoff potential, and plenty of money to offer. They will be looking to make moves to optimize the roster this summer and Kings fans should definitely keep an eye on them. The Magic are one of the few teams that could realistically steal Monk from the Kings.