Grade the trade pitch: Sacramento Kings move fan favorite to add more balance
By Mat Issa
Orlando Magic
Grade: A-
The Orlando Magic are the perfect trade partner for the Kings because they have the exact opposite problem. The Magic are a defense-first team that is lacking in on-ball creation.
You may be wondering why the Magic would want to trade their prized free agency signing. But I think the Magic (and the rest of the basketball world) will soon realize that Kentavious Caldwell-Pope's skillset is very redundant of many other players on the roster. He may enhance their strengths, but he does nothing to shore up their weaknesses.
By adding Monk (72nd percentile in unassisted field goals, per Dunks & Threes), the Magic will boost their offense (82nd percentile in Offensive Estimated Plus-Minus). Monk also (mostly) makes up for the loss of shooting and spacing that comes with the departure of Caldwell-Pope. And since the Magic have Jalen Suggs, Gary Harris, and Anthony Black, they won't suffer much of a decline in point-of-attack defense, either.
Unless he has a major bounce back, Jalen McDaniels (4.7 million dollars next year) is just dead salary. But that is counterbalanced by the second round pick they would be getting from the Kings. The Magic would also be getting the younger player in this swap (Monk is 26, while Caldwell-Pope is 31).
The reason the Magic only get an A- here is because I think the Kings get the best player in this deal. Monk is good playmaker/scorer, but Caldwell-Pope is one of the very best 3-and-D role players in the business.