NBA
Sacramento Kings Sign Guard Malik Monk
Jul 6, 2022, 11:38 AM | Updated: 11:40 am
(Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
(Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
UPDATE: July 6, 2022 – 11:37 am PST
The Sacramento Kings have officially announced the signing of Malik Monk.
“Malik Monk is an elite shooter, fierce competitor and tremendous athlete,” Kings general manager Monte McNair said through a statement that was released by the team on Wednesday. “We’re thrilled to have him join us in Sacramento.”
Monk will wear number 0 with the Kings.
OFFICIAL: Welcome to Sactown, @AhmadMonk! 👑 pic.twitter.com/KydO6B2DKc
— Sacramento Kings (@SacramentoKings) July 6, 2022
Original story – June 30, 2022
De’Aaron Fox has been reunited with his college backcourt running mate.
According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, the Sacramento Kings have reached a two-year, $19 million agreement with free-agent guard Malik Monk.
Free agent Malik Monk is finalizing a deal with the Sacramento Kings, sources tell me and @sam_amick.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2022
Monk, a former college teammate of Fox’s at Kentucky during the 2016-17 season, enjoyed a breakout season with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2021-22.
Over 76 games, Monk averaged career-highs across the board: 13.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 0.8 steals per game. The 6’3 guard also shot a career-best 47 percent from the field to go along with a very efficient 39 percent rate from beyond the three-point stripe.
The Kings are in desperate need of shooting after trading away its top perimeter threats in Buddy Hield and Tyrese Haliburton during February’s trade with the Indiana Pacers that brought All-Star center Domantas Sabonis to Sacramento.
Monk’s presence on the roster will provide Fox and Sabonis with a legitimate option from beyond the arc, while Kings general manager Monte McNair surely has more work to do in forming this team into a postseason contender.
The Kings won’t have much cap space to work with, however, as Spotrac’s Keith Smith reports that Sacramento gave Monk most of the non-taxpayer mid-level exception. Smith states that the Kings will likely have enough to offer a player a four-year minimum deal.
