The Sacramento Kings didn’t make any splashy moves at the trade deadline - and for at least one night, that decision looked like a smart one. Malik Monk, whose name had been swirling in trade rumors for weeks, came off the bench and lit up the scoreboard in Friday night’s 114-111 loss to the Clippers. The Kings didn’t get the win, but they got a reminder of what Monk brings to the table when he’s locked in.
Monk dropped 18 points in just 22 minutes, leading a second unit that flat-out carried Sacramento offensively. The Kings’ bench poured in 76 points, keeping them in a game that could’ve easily slipped away early.
Monk was particularly lethal from deep, knocking down six threes and going 6-of-13 from the field overall. That kind of microwave scoring is exactly why Sacramento has hesitated to move him - even amid internal discussions about reshaping the roster.
It wasn’t just Monk who stayed put. Veterans like Domantas Sabonis and DeMar DeRozan, both of whom were floated as possible trade pieces, also remained in Sacramento. And while some fans and analysts were frustrated by the lack of movement at the deadline, Kings general manager Scott Perry made it clear before tipoff that the front office is playing the long game.
“I don’t know any of what I call overnight successes,” Perry said. “You’re talking years of drafting, developing, trading. We’re not just gonna chase shiny objects for the sake of doing it… this process that takes a little longer with the drafting and developing is the more solid foundation in my opinion.”
Perry also stressed that the Kings aren’t content with simply being a play-in team. “That’s probably the worst place to be,” he said. The message was clear: Sacramento is building something - and they’re not going to rush it for short-term gains.
Still, the Kings showed some fight against a Clippers squad that’s deep, experienced, and built to contend. Rookie Nique Clifford stepped up with 16 points, while Dylan Cardwell and Devin Carter each added 14. Maxime Raynaud was the only starter to crack double figures with 12 points, highlighting just how much of the offensive load the bench carried.
Meanwhile, DeRozan, Russell Westbrook, and Zach LaVine were unusually quiet, each scoring six points or fewer. That trio’s struggles gave Sacramento a window, but the Kings couldn’t quite capitalize.
De’Andre Hunter, recently acquired in the trade that sent Keon Ellis and Dennis Schroder to Cleveland, made his first start in a Kings uniform. He finished with six points but struggled from beyond the arc, missing all five of his three-point attempts. It’s early, but Sacramento will be hoping he finds his rhythm soon.
The loss drops the Kings to a frustrating result, but the performance of the bench - and Monk in particular - offered a silver lining. Sacramento may not have made a move at the deadline, but if Monk keeps playing like this, they might not need to.