Inside the Kings' Rotation Shake-Up: Malik Monk, Keon Ellis, and the Search for Stability in Sacramento
In a season that’s already been full of questions for the Sacramento Kings, the latest head-scratcher has come from the rotation itself - and more specifically, the curious case of Malik Monk.
Heading into Monday night’s game, Monk had been a healthy scratch in back-to-back contests. That’s a notable development for a player who had been averaging 24 minutes per game and was once in the Sixth Man of the Year conversation.
With Zach LaVine sidelined due to a moderate left ankle sprain, many expected Monk to step into a larger role. Instead, he found himself parked on the bench.
So what’s going on in Sacramento?
Doug Christie’s Balancing Act
Interim head coach Doug Christie, who’s navigating the Kings through a turbulent 7-22 start, addressed the situation directly after Saturday’s 98-93 home loss to the Trail Blazers - Monk’s second straight DNP-CD (Did Not Play - Coach’s Decision).
“We made the decision to go with Keon,” Christie said. “It’s a logjam there.
We’re 6-22, we’re trying something different. We’re going to turn over all the rocks.”
That “logjam” Christie mentioned refers to the crowded backcourt, where minutes are being split among Monk, Keon Ellis, and others - with LaVine’s eventual return only set to complicate matters. It’s not a permanent change, Christie emphasized, but rather part of the experimentation that comes with a team searching for answers in a difficult season.
He doubled down before Sunday’s game, saying, “It’s just mathematics. It ain’t nothing personal. This job is a different animal.”
Monk’s Response: Stay Ready
For Monk, the situation is understandably frustrating. He spoke before the game, expressing confusion but also professionalism in how he’s handling the sudden drop in playing time.
“It’s not my job to try to figure out why I’m not playing,” Monk said. “I deem myself more than the whole, so I’ll just be ready when my name is called.”
That name finally got called during Sunday night’s dramatic 125-124 overtime win over the Houston Rockets - a game that might just be the Kings’ most emotional victory of the season.
After Ellis played the first half - including a rough foul on Houston’s Reed Sheppard during a final-second three-point attempt - Christie turned to Monk in the second. Monk logged just five minutes, but they were meaningful. He scored two points and brought a jolt of energy that the crowd at Golden 1 Center immediately fed off of.
“Keon wasn’t terrible, but Malik brought in energy,” Christie said postgame. “The crowd gave that energy back. He came in, got a bucket, and I told him after the game, I appreciate you for being a pro.”
Christie’s message was clear: It wasn’t about punishing Ellis or rewarding Monk - it was about responding to the moment. “It was five minutes, but they were really good five minutes that we needed, and he supplied it.”
Crunch-Time Kings Show Fight
The Kings’ win over the Rockets wasn’t just about Monk’s return - it was a full team effort that saw Sacramento claw back from a 14-point deficit with under 10 minutes remaining. Russell Westbrook and Dennis Schroder hit clutch threes down the stretch, with Schroder’s go-ahead triple ultimately sealing the win.
It was the kind of gritty, gutsy performance that’s been missing in a season where Sacramento has struggled to find its identity.
And for a team sitting at the bottom of the Western Conference standings, beating a Houston squad that’s been in the playoff mix is no small feat. It’s a reminder that even in a down year, there’s still talent - and fight - on this roster.
The Numbers Behind the Dilemma
If you’re wondering why Monk’s absence raised eyebrows, the advanced metrics help tell the story. Sacramento is outscored by 12.3 points per 100 possessions when Monk is off the floor.
When he’s on? That number improves to -5.7.
And while you’d expect Monk’s impact to be mostly offensive, the Kings actually defend better with him on the court - allowing 114.6 points per 100 possessions compared to 119.8 without him.
It’s not just about scoring. It’s about spacing, energy, and the ability to make plays when the offense stalls. Monk brings that.
As for Ellis, it’s been a tougher road. The Kings are statistically better on both ends when he’s off the floor, though that doesn’t tell the full story either. His role has been inconsistent, and his defensive impact - often subtle - doesn’t always show up in the box score.
Still, it’s been a disappointing season for the undrafted guard, who could hit unrestricted free agency this summer. His situation now feels like a microcosm of the Kings’ larger struggles: a team with pieces that don’t always fit together, trying to find clarity in a fog of inconsistency.
What Happens Next?
With the trade deadline looming in February and general manager Scott Perry expected to be active, it’s fair to wonder if this logjam eventually gets cleared via roster moves. LaVine’s return will only tighten the rotation further, and both Monk and Ellis are players who - in the right context - could thrive with consistent minutes.
For now, Christie is doing what he can with what he has. That means making tough calls, sometimes mid-game, and asking his players to stay ready no matter what their role is on a given night.
It’s not perfect. But on Sunday night, it worked.
And in a season where very little has gone right for Sacramento, that’s something worth building on.