It was a tale of two seasons for Malik Monk in his actual third season in Sacramento. On one hand, he averaged career highs nearly across the board – 17.2 points, 5.6 assists, 3.8 boards, and 14.4 field goals a contest. He still had nightly highlights and some monster performances that could light up Golden One Center as few Kings could. But after the trade deadline came and went, and the Kings swapped De’Aaron Fox for Zach LaVine, Monk’s efficiencies and presumed locked-in starter spot dropped to end the year.
On paper, it seemed like trading away Fox was a big opportunity for Monk to prove he could be a starting guard – but from the All Star break on, his scoring dropped to 14.9 points per contest, his true shooting percentage fell from 55.2% to 53.9%, and his offensive rating tanked from 112 to 103. Across the whole of the year, Monk’s three point success dropped as he took more of them off the bounce. Per NBA’s tracking stats, Monk’s success on pull-up three pointers has dropped in each of his three seasons in Sacramento – this year, he shot 28.3%.
The advanced numbers weren’t all bad for Monk. Per Cleaning the Glass, he was actually second on the team in plus/minus differential; +6 overall, second behind just Domantas Sabonis. But the Kings clearly struggled to utilize Monk with both LaVine and DeMar DeRozan on the floor. Of the 11 rosters all season that played over 100 possessions, the two lineups with those three players were both squarely in the negative when comparing the Kings points per possession against their opponents. The starting lineup of Monk, LaVine, and DeRozan with Keegan Murray and Sabonis were a whopping -6.9 across 412 possessions played. (Side note – that same lineup, but swapping in Keon Ellis instead of LaVine, was +20.9 across 390 possessions played). The idea that Monk could become a primary ball handler and distributor has apparently ended, as Scott Perry has already made it clear that point guard is a primary need for this roster moving forward.
Monk missed three games in late March (which the Kings all lost) due to illness, and when he returned, Doug Christie opted to keep Ellis in the starting lineup and bring Monk off the bench. And unfortunately, for the second year in a row, Monk had to watch on the sidelines, hobbled by a calf strain, as the Kings lost in the NBA Play-In round. A rough end to a rough season, and we’ll have to see if the Kings roster moves this summer maintains–or perhaps opens back up–a starting spot for Monk.
A summer ago, retaining Monk seemed like the most obvious free agency win in years for Sacramento. Now, the fit of the backcourt doesn’t make much sense. There isn’t a Sacramento King who can electrify the crowd quite like Monk, but between his efficiency issue this year and lack of success with LaVine and DeRozan, the path forward isn’t so obvious.
Grade: C
Good assessment and grade. I would give him a C-. He is so bad defensively. His 3pt shooting was very streaky, and he showed that being the primary ball handler on a consistent basis is not his thing.
Yes, exactly. A bit surprising to me that his (lack of) D doesn’t get mentioned in the article.
To me, his D is what makes me want to trade him, but what will likely also dampen his trade value.
I think if he went to a team that had a good defense already, he could be covered in the scheme. But in Sac, nah, that is a thing that doesn’t exist. Keon and Keegan are the only reliable defenders under contract (maybe Carter, but that is TBD).
I just want a more consistent type of player, and one that plays at least average defense.
Good call on Monk’s lack of defense. It’s not quite as bad as LaVine’s, but when they’re both on the floor? Gross.
My D probably makes my wife want to trade me, as well.
Remember when King’s fans (including our very own Mr. Reynolds) thought that Monk could develop into a PG after the Fox trade…in year 8 in the NBA lol. Life of a Kangz fan. We’re so desperate we reach for the impossible.
Monk showed he is a 6th man, not a starter, this season.
Would you guys think a sign and trade for Jonathan Kuminga using Malik Monk be a good fit for the Kings?
He’s talented for sure. Gives me pause that he couldn’t get consistently into the rotation when they needed help so badly prior to the Butler trade.
Maybe a change of scenery is what he needs? Unfortunately we don’t have an established culture for him to fit into. I’d guess on the Kings he’d be much more likely to go the way of Kuzma, LaVine, DDR than the way we’d want him to.
I’d personally focus on poaching end of the bench guys or offer a slight overpay and more playing time for rotation guys off the contenders.
OKC’s roster is stout, and they have picks. They don’t have room for everyone, so I’d much rather poach an Isaiah Joe, Cason Wallace. Guys that already know how to play that might flourish with increased court time and be part of the new culture.
Like what Indy did getting Nesmith from the end of Boston’s bench.
Or Lou Dort, Aaron Wiggins, guys that might soon price themselves out of OKC.
We need to take some risks on some high upside type players like Kuminga instead of going after the usual suspects like Lavine and DDR. It’s on Perry and the FO to identify which talented players that may need a change of scenery to pop to take flyers on. That’s something MM sadly never seemed to prioritize.
Why would the Warriors want Monk?
Monk would actually fit great with the Warriors.
Agreed.. Terrific 6th man. Not even a bad ‘break in case of emergency”-starter. But between LaVine and DeRozan, it just doesn’t work to have Monk be the full time starter.
The Ben Simmons rule. Expecting a player to transform leads one down a dark and painful road.
The Curse of the Pizza Guy is strong.
They oughta scrap them as a sponsor.
Beat me to it.
He’s got pizzazz, but he just can’t slice it.
Cheesy, but I like it.
He reminds me of Jason Williams in that he seems just as likely to do something to make you groan and want to pull your hair out as he is to do something good. Throw in the Defense, what’s that? component and a C seems reasonable to me.
That’s where I am with him.
Showboater, hot dog, home run hitter; I love the personality, and apparently his teammates do as well, but he will go for the highlight play over the simple one every single time. It’s like professional level ADD basketball. It’s like he’s addicted to it: open 3 pointers? nope, won’t do it, he’ll dribble and side/back step. Layup? nope. Windmill or nothing. And his alley oops? puh-leez. I know I put the dud in fuddy duddy, but he is the anti-John Stockton. And he seems to have caught whatever ails (ailed?) Kevin Huerter: his shooting percentages have worsened through time. Part of that is his decision making, but how did he end up with the most ppg in his career but the lowest FG% (43.9% 98th in the League).
He has positive energy to burn. His swagger is top notch. But there is a reason he isn’t/can’t be a starter.
Domas’ stats caved in March and April, and Malik Monk was right there with him. If the Kings are going to be a better team next season, they need to fiddle with their fit. These pieces fit the wrong puzzle.
Excellent summation.
The whole offesnse looked out of sorts after the tradeline. Monk and Sabonis both saw dramatic changes to their stats and the ability to be effective. I don’t have high hopes but I’m hoping some semblance of an offense can be found during the offseason
On an unrelated note, any though thoughts out there on Josh Giddey? He’s an RFA seeking something in the neighborhood of 5/120 from the Bulls. Seems reasonable and he had a good year, but I’m wondering if his good year is legit or just iron pyrite. Also, I don’t think he’s known as a stout defender, but i say that not knowing for sure.
Seems like the Bulls are planning to build around Giddey. I’d be looking at Coby White as a player that could fill our void at starting PG.
Sacramento does have a lot of hot high school girls.
You can find Monks all over the world, making him expendable.
Zach Lowe on Ringer podcast talking about the playoffs and they were talking about who you going to replace Thibs with and Malone comes up and Simmons floats an idea for a summer podcast where they rank the top 30 mistakes the Kings have made. Lowe says we may have to go way more than 30. Lol. Kangz
I’m ready for the Kings to move on from Monk. I like the guy, her personality and attitude and a joy, but I’m just not a big fan of his game or fit. DDR is still my first to get moved but Monk is next on that list. I also feel like his attitude suffered a bit after the Fox trade. I don’t blame him, but I also don’t want and more sour grapes in the locker room then we are already likely to have.
As to value, I think he has very little. He’s not bringing back a 1st round pick. He’s likely best used as filler or for a swap of another bench player in a position of need. I’d imagine he has about the same value as Jordan Clarkson, Malcom Brogdon and/or Keldon Johnson (of whom would make a lot of sense in a straight swap). I have him pegged as a role playing 7th man on a good team. Some nights he can catch fire for you off the bench, but on others he should be benched after jacking an ill advised 30 footer with 15 seconds on the clock and then getting blown by on defense. I’m just not sure he’s a net positive on the floor for this Kings team. I mean seriously, 32% from 3 on 6.6 attempts this past season??? That’s Antoine Waker level of bad shooting.
But he fills that Terrance Davis role!!!
He’s my first pick for current King that I’d want to have a beer with, but I’m with you that he needs to go.
I’d prefer a glass of Wine at the Domas vineyard, but yeah, I have zero issues with Monk the person.
Speaking of TD. It would be total nonsense for the Kings to pick up his non-guaranteed deal for next year. The team needs another undersized tweener guard like a hole in the head.
made me think of those old Employee #8 ads featuring Antoine Walker.
I wrote a bunch of other stuff but it all boils down to this –
No player can be accurately judged in this environment. Imagine grading a bird on air speed velocity without taking into account the adverse wind speed or overall weight ratio of either the bird or the coconut. It would be utterly asinine and completely without merit. Among other things.
African or European swallow?
I agree to a certain extent, but he was at several other environments too and I don’t see a huge difference.
Think the grade is fair
Also think now that Fox has gone his fit on the roster is minimized. For the Beam Team he was great as a 3rd guard, he has PG skills but isn’t a PG. But on this mis begotten roster he isn’t a true PG. Or maybe he might be if the talent on the roster was better or fitted his skills better
He is a bit streaky, but I think he is a real emotional leader and provides energy he’d be great on a contender
Love him as a player, like him on the Kings, love his energy but on this roster I wonder about his fit. If he wants to move on I’d be happy to see him on a roster that suits his talents more
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