The Kings have locked down one of their top stars on a new deal.
On Thursday night, Malik Monk agreed to a four-year deal worth $78 million, including a player option, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
The Kings, who failed to advance out of the play-in round, were hoping the guard would return during free agency after he recorded a career-best 15.4 points and 5.1 assists per game in 2023-24.
They got their wish.
Monk, 26, was the league’s Sixth Man of the Year runner-up after his strong campaign.
Monk could have started hearing from other teams on June 30 when free agency officially opens up for players to openly and legally communicate with teams on the open market.
On Wednesday, the Kings’ De’Aaron Fox spoke to reporters and said he had not talked to Monk about his free-agent decision since the season ended.
“I don’t really ask him about it. … I’m not sure,” Fox told ABC10. “We’re friends first. …I’m not really asking him anything about free agency.”
“Him being able to be in this situation and obviously having multiple teams that are trying to come after him, I’m definitely happy for him,” Fox added. “Obviously, we want him to stay but, at the end of the day, he has to do what’s best for him.”
The upcoming season will be Monk’s third in Sacramento.
Monk spent four years in Charlotte after he was drafted by the Hornets in the first round (11th pick) of the 2017 NBA Draft, followed by a one-season stint with the Lakers before going to the Kings.
