The Sacramento Kings will be part of the Play-In Tournament. They are locked into the nine versus ten game, which means it will take two straight games to advance to the playoffs as the eighth seed. The Kings will have to defeat the Mavericks before going on the road and winning again. That just got significantly tougher with Malik Monk out.
Shams Charania reported Monk would miss at least two weeks with a calf injury. With the regular season ending on Sunday, the 6’3 guard is out for the final three games and next week’s Play-In Tournament. The only way Monk plays again this season is if the Kings make the playoffs.
Monk is under contract through a 2027 player option, but he may not last in Sacramento. His production has decreased since the Kings acquired LaVine, which puts his future in doubt.
Malik Monk may have already played his final game with the Kings
It has been a year of change for the Kings. They shockingly traded De’Aaron Fox and fired head coach Mike Brown. Sacramento is searching for a direction. They want to win but need more talent on their roster. The pieces currently do not fit.
The Kings have several elite scorers. Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, Domantas Sabonis, and Monk are all locked in for multiple years. It appears the franchise is trending towards running through LaVine and DeRozan more with Monk taking a backseat.
Monk averaged 18.2 points per game before LaVine joined the Kings and just 15.4 after. Fans know the 27-year-old is a bucket whose playmaking continues to improve. Several teams will be interested if he becomes available, which may not be the case for the other high-paid options in Sacramento.
The Bulls struggled to trade both LaVine and DeRozan before they ended up on the Kings. Their values have not improved as Sacramento remains a team fighting their way through the Play-In. If the Kings want to upgrade, Monk is likely the one fetching a significant return.
Sacramento Kings fans do not want to hear that, but it could be one of many changes this offseason. They are already searching for a new head coach and could make significant front-office changes. When management usually means roster turnover. Things are unsettled in Sactown.
The Kings are still fighting for a playoff berth. They will have to do it without Malik Monk. Can they? Advancing through the Play-In Tournament is never easy, so stay tuned for all the latest.