Aside from acquiring DeMar DeRozan, the biggest news of the summer for Kings fans was the re-signing of fan favorite Malik Monk to a 4 year, $78 million contract. Many fans (myself included) were pessimistic about Sacramento’s chances of keeping Monk following two very good seasons, mostly due to the fact that the Kings were limited in what they could offer him. But Monk surprised us all by not only re-signing with Sacramento, but by doing so before other teams even really had a chance to start recruiting him, giving the Kings the ability to go into the draft and free agency knowing that one of their best players was going to stay on.
Losing Monk for nothing would have been devastating. Instead, the Kings get to build on the work of the last two years and keep this core going of which Monk was a big part of. Monk was Sacramento’s third leading scorer and a leading contender for 6th Man of the Year in both seasons he’s played for the Kings. Monk led all bench players last season in points (15.4) and assists (5.1) per game. Still, an untimely injury cost him the last 10 games of the season, during which the Kings went just 4-6 and narrowly missed the playoffs. Minnesota’s Naz Reid ended up winning 6th Man of the Year by just two votes. Now, I don’t want to take away anything from Naz Reid, who was a worthy winner, but I’m still of the mind that had Monk not gotten injured when he did and was available for the stretch run, the Kings would not only have made the playoffs (two of their losses during that time came by just one point, and that’s not including a 4 point loss to the Mavericks in the game Malik got hurt after just barely a minute of playing time) but Monk would have also won 6th Man of the Year.
With Monk re-signing, there’s been a conversation about whether or not the Kings should be starting him going forward. While Monk is definitely one of the team’s best players, I don’t think he’d be best utilized as a starter. Fox, Sabonis and newcomer DeMar DeRozan all are going to need the ball in their hands a ton, and thus to me the best fits with them in the starting lineup are Keegan Murray and Keon Ellis. Murray and Ellis both provide defense and the ability to hit shots off the ball. Monk does most of his damage with the ball in his hands, and the only Kings player who has had a higher usage rate than Monk in his two seasons has been De’Aaron Fox. Starting the game with that many high usage players doesn’t seem optimal.
But Monk should still be very effective off the bench, and it will allow the Kings to always have at least two shot creators on the floor whether it’s Fox and DeRozan, Fox and Monk, or Monk and DeRozan. Monk will be able to focus more on his strengths as a primary scorer and playmaker, where he’s one of the very best. Monk led all bench players in total points scored last season despite missing the last 10 games of the season (he had 58 more than second place Bobby Portis who played 78 games). He also had the most total assists and was second in free throws made. His playmaking has been perhaps the biggest surprise as a King, as he wasn’t known as much of a passer until he came to Sacramento. In his first five seasons, he had an assist rate of around 15%, whereas in Sacramento it’s been more around 27%. Last season, only Domantas Sabonis assisted at a higher rate for the Kings, and not by a ton either (33.9% to Monk’s 28.9%).
The Kings know they have unfinished business, and Monk himself mentioned that as one of his reasons for staying. Some of that unfinished business may finally be getting the recognition he deserves as one of the game’s elite bench players, and if he can keep up the production he’s had over the last few years it’s only a matter of time before he becomes just the second King to ever win 6th Man of the Year.
I know I am in a minority here, but I really don’t care about individual accolades.
I just want team succuess, play-off success to be more precise.
Don’t get me wrong, I love that we were able to retain Monk. He’s an important piece, but he really has to improve defensively and know when his “chaos game” is hurting the team.
Monk mentioned last season that he really wanted to win 6th Man of the Year, and seemed highly focused on that award. It sort of irked me that he seemed focused on individual accolades. I think his play struggled at times as well, with chaotic nature he brings at times.
On that topic, didn’t he say recently that after being snubbed last season for the 6th man award that he could give two shits about it now? I swear he said something of that nature in a recent interview. In the context of your comment, could be interesting to see how that mew mindset might affect his play this season.
I care a hell of a lot more about team success, but I still like seeing Kings players recognized for their play. I especially like it because awards generally are attached to players being really good on really good teams.
Agree. The business of basketball and the success of the team are interconnected.
These are not the LA Lakers or New York Knicks – these are the Sacramento Kings. That Malik Monk chose to stay and play for this coach, for this team and for this city – and take less $money$ to do so – tells me that by his actions, not his words, that he is playing for team success. Recognition, as Greg points out, is attached to winning basketball. Accolades not only reward those winners, but also reward the franchise in terms of increased visibility and the attraction of others who understand that Sacramento can be a desirable place to play.
I will add, Malik Monk, besides him savoring and promoting his role as a 6th Man, seems to be a very pleasant and outgoing personality that his teammates and many of us fans, appreciate having him on this team. I particularly enjoy his interactions with alter ego, Keegan Murray, as well as his joyful brotherly pressers with fellow Wildcat alum, De’Aaron Fox.
Let it also be said, loud and clear: Malik means King in Arabic.
(I bet you didn’t know that!)
WHAT?!?!
Malik means King?!?!
I watch approximately 70 out of 84 games played last season and not once did a commentator announcing the game ever mention that. I find that weird as it seems like a fun fact to throw out there on live TV.
You’d think a guy like Mark Jones would have the courtesy to share facts like these with us fans, right?
there is good monk and bad monk. Coach Brown has to tell the difference. There is clearly more firepower on this team. That may influence Monk to be more bad monk. On the other hand, it may give him more freedom, less defensive focus on him and set him free.
DDR is more of a threat than HB and will command attention. I suspect that the Kings keep 2 play makers on the court at all times- Fox, Monk, DDR. The secondary scorers- Keegan and Huerter will be more effective.
The second unit might suffer defensively- Monk + Huerter and with DDR.
I am not sure the percent of times Kings scored on the offensive end or the points per possession, but I suspect that this will rise.
With Huerter and Keegan, can have 3 prime scorers on the court at all times.
The challenge remains the same- on the defensive side. Ellis, if he starts will help. Keegan will help and a newly energized will help.
Would help to have a bench set of defensive minded guys-like the best days of Robert Williams or Jae Cowder of 3 years ago.
Will this be I. Stewart, Covington, or a trade.
Carter is the unknown., Is he Davion with offensive skills or Javon Carter? Will he be integrated> Will he even play?
Are we over-valuing him?
Good Monk will emerge and win the 6th man award.
Maybe having DeRozan will help Monk to not think he has to do so much offensively? Barnes was lackluster at creating any kind of offense, and Monk might have felt the pressure of being the guy to create all the offense?
He was definitely relied upon as the “make something, anything happen guy when Fox was off the court. That pressure or responsibility is reduced this season. No doubt.
I think in general we (kings fans) are over valuing Carter. It’s in our nature to overvalue our 1st round rookies. More so in this case I believe because he has been anointed as a better Davion before even stepping on a summer league court.
Of course the potential is there. I’m of the opinion that he won’t play at all this season. That said, I think a guy like Boogie Ellis can fill the void of a Huerter + Colby Jones and two 2nd round picks trade package that brings back an Isiah Stewart or Tari Eason at the all star break. Who knows though. Wouldn’t surprise me one bit if zero trades are made if the Kings are rolling.
yes, I have concerns about over valuing Carter and he very well may not play. The OKC first rounder is out for the year. as well
Detroit will probably want a first round pick for Stewart but Houston may accept Huerter if they still shoot poorly even though they got Shepherd in the draft.
I’m with you, Rik, the individual awards don’t do it for me, I’ve never been able to get emotionally invested in them. I liked that Fox won the inaugural Clutch Player of the Year award, but it’s based on hard numbers, not on how the press feels about the nominated players.
Plus, I’m a bit more willing to throw the topic around in the doldrums, but once the season starts, I just don’t care which player some jagoff in Gainesville thinks is the best. We don’t need our best players to have award-worthy (by whomever’s standard) seasons, but if they play well, I like where the Kings could go.
If Monk is healthy, he’ll be a treat to watch, and he’ll make the team better. Everything else is just tinsel.
OT—Monte found his PF! Where’s the banner headline?
https://www.nba.com/kings/news/kings-sign-terry-taylor
Title time, LET’S GO!!!
IMO he isn’t the one.
I was being sarcastic, Jack.
Terry Taylor played 4 seasons at Austin Peay College. Ausin Peay is the alma mater of the late great Fly Williams, a seminal scorer in the college ranks and the home, at the Fly’s time, of the greatest chant in all of sports:
“The Fly is Open, the Fly is open!, Let’s go Peay!!”
How awesome is this?!
On the topic of raunchy humor: In the 1960s at Cal the men’s rooting section was notoriously raunchy. When playing USC a favorite chant was “Trojan or Bear? Bear, of course!”
A 6’5″ power forward who has shot 29% from three in the NBA. I don’t think it means much, but it’s a strange signing. Maybe it’s a favor to someone to put him on the training camp roster so Taylor can be seen. That’s my best guess, and if I’m being honest, it’s not really that good.
Yes
Succinct
I definitely feel he is a top 5 candidate and could easily win it if the Kings surprise the league this year.
That being said, by dark horse candidates (aside from Naz Reid) are: Andrew Nembhard in Indy (assuming Mathurin is the starter), Eric Gordon in Philly, and Carson Wallace in OKC.
on topic/off topic: the photo for this article… love seeing Vivek off to the right in full gutteral euphoria for his team. As shitty as he handled things at the beginning (way too long of a “beginning” 8 years worth of mind boggling decisions) it’s starting to dissipate for me a bit. The Monte Hire has been a blessing, empowering Monte to do as he sees fit, renewing Mike Brown has all proven to be wonderful decisions/behavior. It took way too long and many kicks in the nuts of watching good decisions (Mike Malone) being un done with bad decisions (Pete DeAlesandro/the devil) but he has finally got it right and has stuck with what he got right. I appreciate the stability and steady growth of progress that has lead to winning. I was begging for stability and empowering qualified management since the day he took over. We finally have it and it feels really good.
Consider the Kings missing the playoffs again. The reason wont be because of bad management and bad player personal decisions. It wont be for cancerous coaches or players. It won’t be for the most insane Draft day selections. It will be because the West is maybe the most competitive it has ever been. That fact is refreshing is all I’m saying. Thanks Vivek.
You nailed it. I’d been kind of kicking around the same basic idea in my brain for a few weeks now. For as badly as Vivek’s tenure started out, he’s clearly turned the ship around. Fewer knee-jerk reactions, seemingly less owner meddling in decision making, empowering his GM and coach, coupled with measured gambles (Hali/Domas) – all of this has led to a Kings team that is no longer the joke of the NBA.
You’re one of the first people I’ve seen here to give Vivek some credit for the organizational stability that has been a hallmark of the past couple of seasons. He still lacks the serious wealth needed to compete for a championship, imo. But overall, It’s so much more satisfying to root for the Kings than it has been in a long time.
For me –
Blind squirrels and broken clocks when it comes to King Vivek/Queen Matina/Prince Aneel/Princess Anjali. They are only better by the law of averages.
I cannot confirm it, so I am wild ass speculating – the NBA got involved while GM Divac was in charge and probably through information from agents, well respected coaches (i.e. Alvin Gentry) and other owners and GMs along with the League office, and closed his naval so that Ranadive couldn’t see well (his head was that far up his ass), and had them hire Monte and Wes and then kept tabs on them to some degree so that the Kings could be run in some semblance to the League standard for teams and offices, and not using their Jazz hands.
I agree that I am thankful that McNair/Welker are in charge, and that they were able to hire Mike Brown and staff and that it appears that background Ranadive Group has actually remained mostly in the background. Do I trust it will stay this way?
Not for a New York second. I mistrust/distrust the half-truths, untruths, mistruths that the virtue signaling, M.I.T. genius occasionally blurts, and I pity his P.R. team. Should the current GM management team leave, be dismissed, sacked, fired, moved on – a return to the previous 9 seasons will return as well. But have a shaka! photo op in the meantime.
Even though I’m comfortable with how the arena deal ties the Kings to Sacramento for the foreseeable future, I have to admit that the amount of contact Vivek will have with LV-bound John Fisher gives me some heartburn every now and then!
The pessimism you have is well earned. No doubt about that. I still share some of that with you. It’s just dissipated for me after 4 consecutive years of competent behavior and actions. I feel like we are locked in to at least 2 more years of this. I’m thankful for this period and obviously hope it continues indefinitely.
I really hope Monk is 99% focused on a deep playoff run and 1% focused on 6th man trophies.
Badge Legend