The Sacramento Kings checked off a very big box on their offseason to-do list on Thursday via a deal for key rotation player Malik Monk.
The 2024 NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award runner-up plans to sign a four-year deal worth $78 million that includes a player option, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
ESPN sources: Free agent G Malik Monk plans to sign a four-year, $78 million contract – including a player option – to return to the Sacramento Kings. Monk had a career-high 15 points and five assists on his way to finishing second in the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year. pic.twitter.com/J8KuOwPl0H
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 21, 2024
Monk joined the Kings in 2022 after one season with the Los Angeles Lakers and saw his game take a step forward. Along with a full season from Domantas Sabonis and the addition of head coach Mike Brown, the Kings reached new heights in 2023 by breaking a 16-year playoff drought.
Last season was less successful, even though Monk had a career year with personal bests in points and assists per game. The Kings were relegated to the play-in, where they defeated the Golden State Warriors and had their season ended by the New Orleans Pelicans.
Monk narrowly missed out on the Sixth Man of the Year award, with winner Naz Reid receiving just two more first place votes than him.
Monk was by far the Kings’ most important free agent, and with a new deal for Brown, they are primed to bring back every key contributor to the team. The question now is whether that is a good plan, as the team will have no shortage of competition in the West next year after finishing ninth in the conference last year.
