According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, the <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-rumors-new-lakers-contract-likely-off-table-for-lebron-james-1559-20220616-SPD-1559.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sacramento Kings</a> have agreed to a two-year, $19 million agreement with <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-news-malik-monk-willing-to-take-less-money-to-return-to-the-lakers-1833-20220627-SPD-1833.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Malik Monk</a>, one of the positives of the Los Angeles Lakers’ past season. In order to keep the shooting guard, the Lakers were able to simply give him the $6.5 million tax mid-level exception. 



The Kings will give him a substantial bump in compensation for moving from Southern California to the north. Only the Lakers and the Dallas Mavericks contacted Monk when he became a free agent last summer because his first four seasons with the Charlotte Hornets were erratic. 



No,w the Kings may extend Monk’s deal to a four-year contract with a mid-level exception valued at around $10.5 million next season. Trade or release of cap holds by the Sacramento Kings might free up some cap space for them to sign him directly instead.



<h2>Malik Monk opts for Kings</h2>



Between Christmas and New Year’s, Monk scored an average of 16.2 points per game while shooting 48.3 percent from the field and 40.5 percent from the three-point range. There is space for improvement in both his defense and his playmaking, but Monk is becoming an NBA threat as a second-half scorer and a threat in transition.



For the first time since high school, the 24-year-old will team up with De’Aaron Fox in Sacramento. While playing for Kentucky, these two were close friends and teammates who were devastated by their team’s disappointing season-ending defeat to North Carolina in the NCAA championship game.

No Lakers stay: Malik Monk agrees two-year, $19 million deal with Kings - thesportsdrops NEWS

No Lakers stay: Malik Monk agrees two-year, $19 million deal with Kings

Changes are expected to be made by the <a href="https:\/\/news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-news-shannon-sharpe-wants-lebron-james-kyrie-irving-to-join-forces-again-1692-20220621-SPD-1692.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lakers</a> this offseason after a terrible campaign. There’s not much the <a href="https:\/\/news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-news-jeanie-buss-explains-why-she-would-never-sell-the-lakers-622-20220510-SPD-622.html">Purple and Gold</a> can take from the 2021-22 NBA season, in which they missed the playoffs.



Even so, there were a <a href="https:\/\/news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-rumors-new-lakers-contract-likely-off-table-for-lebron-james-1559-20220616-SPD-1559.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">few bright spots</a> throughout the year. One of them was Malik Monk, who delivered solid performances — unlike many of his teammates. But now he is a free agent.



However, a return to LA wouldn’t be a bad idea considering how he performed. Having averaged 13.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game, it would make sense if the Lakers bring him back. On top of that, money will not be a stumbling block.



<h2>Money won’t be a problem for Malik Monk to go back to the Lakers</h2>



“They might not be able to pay me as much as I want,” Monk said, via Jovan Buha of The Athletic. “But I could be here and be way more comfortable as a Laker than going to any other team and they’re paying me $5 million more. So it’s just me trying to figure out what team would really want me.“



However, Monk made clear that he will decide what he considers the best for his future. While he would be glad to suit up for the Lakers again, he is also open to all options.



“I definitely would still want to evaluate things,” Monk added. “You never know what happens. Some other team could come in and hopefully tell me the same thing and maybe I get a little bit more minutes on that team. 



“So it’s just actually me being presented and being able to go out there and do what I do is a priority. That’s the biggest priority: A team that’s just going to let me come in and be myself.”

Malik Monk

No Lakers stay: Malik Monk agrees two-year, $19 million deal with Kings

NBA News: Malik Monk willing to take less money to return to the Lakers

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