Kings Still Searching for Answers After OT Loss, as Malik Monk Sits and Keon Ellis Steps Up
The Sacramento Kings are in the middle of a roster identity check, and Thursday night’s 134-133 overtime loss to the Trail Blazers only amplified the questions. Not just about the team’s defense or late-game execution - but about the rotation. More specifically, the absence of Malik Monk.
Monk, one of the Kings’ most dynamic offensive weapons off the bench, didn’t log a single minute in Portland. Instead, it was Keon Ellis who got the call - and he made the most of it.
The third-year guard turned in a stat-stuffing performance: 10 points, four rebounds, three assists, and a career-high-tying six steals in 32 minutes. His energy on both ends stood out, especially on the defensive side, where Sacramento has been looking for more consistency.
So why was Monk, who’s averaged 13.0 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in 24 minutes per game over the first 26 contests, left on the bench? Interim head coach Doug Christie pointed to the numbers game in the backcourt - and a renewed focus on defense.
“We were going with defense, but it’s a logjam,” Christie said postgame. “We’ve got a lot of guards, so whenever it was Keon being the odd man out, then it was Keon being out. Tonight, we were playing Keon, so Malik was out.”
It’s a tough decision, especially when it involves a player like Monk, who’s been a sparkplug for Sacramento’s second unit. But Christie made it clear: this was a strategic move, not a signal of something bigger brewing behind the scenes.
Despite the social media noise suggesting a potential trade, a source with knowledge of the situation confirmed there is no deal involving Monk in the works. This was simply a coaching decision aimed at shaking things up.
And shake things up, they did. Ellis brought a defensive tenacity that helped fuel a third-quarter surge.
The bench unit, with Ellis at the heart of it, gave the Kings a jolt of energy. Though the game ultimately slipped away in overtime, Christie liked what he saw.
“He came in off the bench, I thought, and played fantastic with that bench unit,” Christie said. “They did a really good job in the third quarter.
It just kind of got away from us. We got stalled out a little bit, but they came back with the starters and Keon was a part of that group.
I thought those guys did a great job.”
Still, the bigger picture looms. The Kings are clearly still tinkering with lineups, trying to find the right mix on both ends of the floor. Christie admitted as much.
“We’re searching,” he said. “So far it has not worked the way we want it to work.
Now, I will say obviously we haven’t had our full deck, but the point is we’re continuing to search. We’re continuing to coach.
We’re continuing to push. We’re not stopping anything that we’re doing to try to find a way to get ourselves, not only wins, but to find the ability to say this is the standard of what we’re going to do.”
That search means roles are fluid - even for a player like Monk. Christie didn’t commit to any long-term changes but indicated that Ellis has earned a longer look.
“Nothing is permanent,” Christie said. “Obviously, we’re going to continue to try to make it happen, but Keon played well. We’ll give Keon a run and allow him to continue to develop with those guys.”
For now, the Kings are in evaluation mode. They’re trying to balance offense with defense, experience with upside, and chemistry with urgency. It’s a delicate dance - and Thursday’s loss, while painful, may have offered a glimpse at a new direction.
Whether that direction includes more minutes for Ellis or a return to form for Monk remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: Sacramento isn’t standing pat. They’re still chasing their identity - and hoping that, soon enough, the pieces start to click.