Two big offseason questions for the Sacramento Kings

May 17, 2024, 11:16 AM

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 13: Head coach Mike Brown gestures at Malik Monk #0 of the Sacramento K...

(Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)

Lead Editor & Kings Beat Writer

After missing the 2024 NBA Playoffs by one game, the Sacramento Kings have some critical decisions to make this offseason.

Sacramento’s star core of De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis are under contract for years to come, while second-year forward Keegan Murray continues to develop as an integral piece of this Kings core.

While Fox, Sabonis, and Murray provide a solid foundation, Sacramento’s roster, largely unchanged since the Summer of 2022, requires some alterations to keep pace with the evolving NBA landscape.

Outside moves will be needed to push the Kings in the right direction as the Western Conference continues to improve with each passing year, but McNair and owner Vivek Ranadive have some in-house moves to address in the coming weeks before turning their attention to the free-agent and trade markets.

Carmichael Dave and Jason Ross sat down to discuss Sacramento’s biggest offseason questions as the start of the offseason approaches.

Malik Monk: Will he re-sign with the Kings?

There is no question that Malik Monk is the Kings’ top priority this summer–but will the soon-to-be-free agent reciprocate that feeling?

Monk, the runner-up for this season’s Sixth Man of the Year Award, has thrived since joining Sacramento on a two-year, $19.4 million in July 2022.

During the 2023-24 season–his second with the Kings–Monk posted averages of 15.4 points (career-high), 2.9 rebounds, 5.1 assists (career-high), and 0.6 steals per game on 44 percent shooting from the field and 35 percent from three-point range over 72 games (26.0 minutes per appearance).

The 26-year-old led all reserves in points scored (1,110), assists (370), games with 20+ points (25), and games with 5+ assists (45).

While there is no doubt that Sacramento will hope to bring Monk back during free agency, they will be limited in offering the guard $78 million over four years due to CBA limitations.

Will that be enough to keep Monk, or will he go to the highest bidder? Can the Kings get creative with their contract offer?

Topics Discussed

Malik Monk needs to be the Kings’ top priority this summer
Dave says that things are out of Sacramento’s hands due to Monk being able to get larger offers elsewhere
The most that the Kings can offer Monk is $78 million over four years
Could Sacramento offer Monk a two-year deal with an opt-out after one year?
It will take “a leap of faith” from Monk if he is to stay with the Kings

Mike Brown: Will Sacramento offer an extension?

With Sacramento back on the NBA map and head coach Mike Brown crossing the halfway point of his contract, the time is near for both sides to discuss a contract extension.

Brown’s final year of his deal is a mutual option, meaning that the upcoming 2024-25 season is Brown’s final guaranteed season with the Kings.

As the time for offseason decision-making approaches, Yahoo! Sports’ Jake Fischer reports that Brown is seeking an “eight-figure” extension that falls in line with other recent contracts that have been handed out to fellow Coach of the Year Award winners like Detroit Pistons head coach Monty Williams and Phoenix Suns recent hire Mike Budenholzer.

Has Brown done enough during his Sacramento Kings tenure to earn an extension, or should the 2024-25 season dictate the decision for an extension?

Topics Discussed

Reports indicate that Brown is eying an extension in the eight-figure range
What are the reasons for not giving Brown an extension?
Could Sacramento let Brown coach out the 2024-25 season before making a decision?
Who is more to blame for the Kings’ shortcoming this season: Brown or roster construction?
Dave thinks a wait-and-see approach to Brown makes sense because he is under contract for one more guaranteed season
Paying Brown doesn’t affect Sacramento’s salary cap situation
Since 1985, Brown and Rick Adelman are the only Kings coaches with above .500 records

When is the next Sacramento Kings off-season date of interest?

The NBA Draft is now a two-night event.

Wednesday, June 26th, will act as the first night of the 2024 NBA Draft, where the Sacramento Kings will make their first-round selection (13th). The second round of the draft will be held on Thursday, June 27th, where the Kings will use its 45th overall pick.

Sacramento hasn’t had a first-round pick since 2022, when it selected Iowa product Keegan Murray with the fourth overall pick.

Stay locked into Sactown Sports for all of your Kings draft coverage, including player profiles, reports regarding pre-draft workouts, draft night coverage, and much more.

NBA Offseason Schedule