While it seems like a lifetime away, Malik Monk will have to make a decision about his player option with the Sacramento Kings in less than a year. It will come down to whether he's ready to end his time in Sacramento or not, as the Kings are unlikely to offer him an extension past his current contract.
Monk has been with the Kings since 2022, after four seasons in Charlotte and one with the Lakers. Over the course of his time in Sacramento, he's become a key bench player, someone who can ignite an offensive spark under the team. Monk was even a runner-up for Sixth Man of the Year in 2024.
His situation on the roster changed rather drastically last season. New head coach Doug Christie seemed less inclined to use Monk on a regular basis, leading to inconsistent minutes and several games in a row as a healthy scratch. A lot of fans were confused by this as he's a favorite in Sactown.
On top of that, Scott Perry's rebuild appears to be leaving Monk behind. As new players are drafted and signed, Monk has largely disappeared from the conversation. That doesn't bode well for his future with the franchise, something he's probably taking into account as he plans his next move.
Monk should strongly consider leaving the Kings
The current contract Monk is working under has two years left on it, with the final year being a player option. He has until June 29, 2027 to decide what he wants to do with that option. Given his situation, the right move might be exploring free agency and looking for another team to work with.
For the 2026-2027, Monk will be making slightly over $20 million. If he stays for 2027-2028, his salary from the Kings will be more than $21 million. That's all in line with his market value, which is estimated to be in the $19 to $25 million range. He also knows the Kings have tried to trade him in the last year.
If you add into that the facts that the Kings are unlikely to offer him an extension and that they are utilizing him less and less, Monk would be smart to decline the option and hit free agency in 2027. At 28-years-old, he is just at the beginning of his prime and could be a strong bench presence.
Any team looking for an elite sixth man option, such as the Raptors who need a good shooting guard, would be all over signing him. And Monk is more likely to get a long-term contract out of another team than he is the Kings. Monk needs to leave when it's the right time for him.
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