Report: Malik Monk will stay with Kings

Per ESPN.com:

Free agent guard Malik Monk intends to sign a four-year, $78 million deal — including a player option — to return to the Sacramento Kings, sources told ESPN on Thursday night.

Monk, the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year runner-up, had a career-best season, averaging over 15 points and five assists, and he avoids free agency with the maximum deal available to him to stay in Sacramento.

Sacramento Kings sign Malik Monk

The Sacramento Kings have signed free agent guard Malik Monk, according to General Manager Monte McNair.

“Malik Monk is an elite shooter, fierce competitor and tremendous athlete,” said McNair. “We’re thrilled to have him join us in Sacramento.”

Monk’s deal with the Kings is reportedly a two-year, $19 million contract.

During the 2021-22 campaign, Monk competed in 76 games (37 starts) and averaged 13.8 points (.473 FG%, .391 3PT%, .795 FT%), 3.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 0.8 steals and 28.1 minutes for the Los Angeles Lakers. Monk posted career-highs in points (41), field-goals made (14), rebounds (10) and blocks (3) during the 2021-22 season.

Per the Sacramento Bee, “Monk is a 6-foot-3, 200-pound guard who will help the Kings improve their shooting around Fox and center Domantas Sabonis.”

A five-year NBA veteran, Monk has accrued career averages of 10.3 points (.424 FG%, .355 3pt%, .830 FT%), 2.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 20.4 minutes per game in 309 games (38 starts) for two teams, the Charlotte Hornets (2017-21) and the Los Angeles Lakers (2021-22).

Selected by the Hornets with the 11th overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, Monk spent one season at the University of Kentucky where he helped lead the Wildcats to the Sweet 16 in 2018.

Monk will wear No. 0 for the Kings.

Lakers sign Malik Monk

The Los Angeles Lakers have signed guard Malik Monk, it was announced today by Vice President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Rob Pelinka.

Monk appeared in 42 games for the Hornets last season, averaging a career-high 11.7 points, 2.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 20.9 minutes, while shooting a career-best 40.1 percent (85-212 3FG) from three-point range. Last season, Monk was just one of four reserves to have multiple games with at least 30 points.

In four seasons with Charlotte, Monk played in 233 games (one start) with career averages of 9.1 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 17.8 minutes. In one season at Kentucky, Monk was named the SEC Player of the Year and received All-SEC First Team honors after averaging 19.8 points (.450 FG%, .397 3P%), 2.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists in his lone collegiate season.

Hornets exercise contract option on Malik Monk

The Charlotte Hornets today exercised their third-year option on guard Malik Monk.

The 6-3 Kentucky product is in his second NBA season after appearing in 63 games during his 2017-18 rookie campaign in Charlotte. Through seven games this season, Monk is averaging 11.0 points per game on 35.1% shooting. He holds career averages of 7.1 points, 1.1 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 14.6 minutes per game in 70 contests. Monk was selected by the Hornets 11th overall in the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft.

The Hornets host the Miami Heat tonight at 7 p.m. at Spectrum Center in the first game of a four-game homestand. Charlotte hosts Oklahoma City on Thursday, Nov. 1, Cleveland on Saturday, Nov. 3 and Atlanta on Tuesday, Nov. 6.

Hornet sign rookie Malik Monk

Hornet sign rookie Malik Monk

Charlotte Hornets General Manager Rich Cho announced today that the team has signed 2017 first-round draft pick Malik Monk to his NBA rookie contract.

According to the Charlotte Observer, “under terms of the collective bargaining agreement, all first-round picks are guaranteed at least two seasons of salary. As the 11th pick, Monk will make in excess of $5 million over those two seasons.” 

A consensus 2016-17 All-American Second Team selection, Monk also earned the 2016-17 Jerry West Award, which honors the nation’s top shooting guard. He was named 2016-17 SEC Player of the Year (as voted by media), 2016-17 SEC Freshman of the Year and 2016-17 All-SEC First Team following his lone season at Kentucky, where he averaged of 19.8 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 32.1 minutes per game.

The Lepanto, Ark., native led the SEC in total points scored (754), three-pointers made (104) and three-point field goal percentage (.397, 104-of-262) during the 2016-17 season. He ranked second among NCAA freshman in scoring average (19.8), totaling 36 games with double-figure scoring, including 19 games of 20-or-more points and four games with 30-or-more.

Monk’s 754 total points set a Kentucky record for most points ever scored by a freshman and was the fourth-highest total among all players in school history. Monk helped the Wildcats to the 2017 SEC Championship and an Elite Eight appearance in the 2017 NCAA Tournament in his sole season at Kentucky.

Following his senior season at Bentonville High School in Bentonville, Ark, Monk was named a 2016 McDonald’s High School All-American, also participating in the 2016 Jordan Brand Classic, where he was named the game’s Most Valuable Player.