Malik Monk has given the Kings exactly what teams hope to get from a sixth man: energy, shot-making, and a jolt when the offense starts dragging. But Sacramento’s handling of him last season made one thing plain - this franchise hasn’t valued him the way it once did, and if that’s where this is headed, the Kings should move him as soon as possible.
Monk has the kind of game that fits the second unit perfectly. He can steady a floundering offense, come off the bench and change the tone, and he has done that for Sacramento more than once.
He also played a major role in helping the Kings get back to the playoffs. For the fans, there’s no mystery here.
Sactown loves him. Monk is a real fan favorite, in the same way Naz Reid was in Minnesota for many years.
The problem is that the love from the city doesn’t seem to match the way the franchise sees him.
During the 2025-2026 campaign, Monk repeatedly found himself on the bench as a healthy scratch. In some cases, it stretched across several games with no explanation, leaving fans frustrated.
Then, just as suddenly, the Kings would put him back in for a few games before sending him right back down the depth chart. That kind of stop-and-start usage says plenty about how Sacramento appears to view him, especially under head coach Doug Christie.
Christie didn’t seem all that interested in using Monk with any real consistency or strategy, and the article notes that consistency and strategy are two things largely missing from Christie’s coaching style. It will be interesting to see if Doug lasts the season.
Monk still has two seasons left on his Sacramento deal, with the final year being a player option. He could, and probably should, play through 2026-2027 and then test free agency. Even if he’s nearing the back end of his prime, he remains an elite bench veteran who can help the right team.
Sacramento already explored the trade market for Monk in the 2025 offseason, but the asking price was too high. That same issue has come up in the Kings’ failed efforts to move Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine, and others. Still, there may be a path here if the front office wants to do right by Monk.
Toronto has made it clear it would be interested in adding him, and the possibility of moving RJ Barrett could open a window for the Kings. If Sacramento isn’t going to use Monk properly, then trading him to a team that wants him - and a team with contender potential - is the right move.
If the Kings truly want to keep him, then they need to commit to him. At 28, Monk is still in his prime and can absolutely help off the bench. But if Sacramento isn’t serious about putting him in position to succeed, then it’s time to make the deal and give him the respect he’s earned.
In Other News...
Kings Interest In Jalen Duren Just Got A Lot More Serious
Jalen Durens contract situation in Detroit has suddenly become one of the more interesting plot lines on Sacramentos radar. After declining a five-year offer from the Pistons, he is now in a stalemate with the team as Thursdays deadline to accept a one-year qualifying offer approaches. For the Kings, that only sharpens the appeal of a big man who has already drawn mutual interest from Sacramento, whether through a trade or a future free-agent pursuit.
The catch is the same one that has shadowed Sacramentos pursuit from the start: the Kings do not have the cap room to sign Duren to a max deal right now. So the focus has turned to creating a path, and that has reportedly included exploring a Domantas Sabonis trade to clear the necessary space. If Sacramento can get that flexibility, Duren becomes a much more realistic target either before or during the 2026 season, or when he reaches free agency in 2027. [Read more 🡒]
Kings New-Look Roster Is Already Fueling A Brutal 2026-27 Debate
On The Matt George Podcast, Josh Lloyd of Locked On Fantasy Basketball took a long look at where the Kings could be headed in 2026-27, and his read was not exactly comforting. He pointed to the possibility of defensive issues lingering on a roster that is still trying to sort out its identity, even as the front office adds new pieces and hopes the fit improves.
Lloyd also raised questions about whether newcomers Darius Acuff Jr. and DeAndre Hunter will live up to the expectations attached to them, which only adds to the uncertainty around Sacramentos next step. And if the Kings do decide Domantas Sabonis is part of the answer they want to move off of, Lloyd suggested they may have to be more realistic about the trade return than they would like. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Final Two-Way Spot May Be Down To One Young Guard
The Kings have brought Tristen Newton into 2024 training camp, putting the former UConn guard squarely in the mix for one of the team's two-way openings. Newton arrives with a G League-heavy resume and some real pedigree, since he was a 2024 second-round pick by the Pacers before Sacramento picked up his rights in a trade involving the Stockton Kings.
For a roster still sorting out its final developmental spot, Newton is the kind of player worth a long look: young, experienced in the G League grind, and familiar enough to the organization through the Stockton connection. He also went on to earn All-NBA G League First Team honors in 2026, which only adds to the intrigue around whether the Kings see him as the right fit for that last two-way slot. [Read more 🡒]