The Sacramento Kings are hoping to bounce back from an underwhelming season where they missed the NBA playoffs entirely.
Their first effort at doing so is retaining Sixth Man of the Year runner-up Malik Monk. ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski broke the news late Thursday evening that Monk intends to sign a four-year, $78 million deal.
ESPN Sources: Free agent G Malik Monk intends to sign a four-year, $78 million deal — including a player option — to return to the Sacramento Kings. Monk had career-bests of 15 points and five assists on his way to the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year runner-up. pic.twitter.com/J8KuOwPl0H
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 21, 2024
He was a crucial contributor for Sacramento off the bench, averaging career-highs in points (15.4) and assists (5.1) on 44.3% shooting from the field and 35% from 3-point range. Some believe Monk deserved the Sixth Man of the Year award over Minnesota Timberwolves big man Naz Reid, who started more than a dozen games last season. The loss of the 26-year-old's dynamic scoring would have created a hole in the Kings' rotation, which was likely unfixable this offseason.
Wojnarowski continued to explain just how quickly Monk, his agent, and the Kings' organization began negotiating.
"Monk’s agents Jeff Schwartz and Marcus Monk of @excelbasketball were able to start negotiations after the NBA Finals and avoid free agency with the maximum contract Kings are allowed to pay Monk," Wojnarowski wrote. "Huge offseason priority for Sacramento."
