With the Sacramento Kings out of the playoff race, the Los Angeles Lakers might be able to swoop in and snatch away one of Sacramento’s best shooters.
The Kings are 18-19 and currently the No. 11 seed in the Western Conference. Sacramento has won five straight, but on the whole, it’s a lost season for the Kings, especially after the controversial firing of former unanimously voted NBA Coach of the Year Mike Brown.
It wouldn’t necessarily be wise for the Lakers to give up Austin Reaves in a deal for someone like De’Aaron Fox. Reaves is a star in his own right and on a much more affordable contract than Fox, who isn’t lightyears better than Reaves, anyway.
There is another guard on the Kings who could really help the Lakers, though: Malik Monk. Monk becomes trade-eligible on January 15.
Monk’s much cheaper than Fox. He’s in the first year of a four-year, $78 million deal with a player option for 2027-28.
Sacramento’s probably open to moving Monk’s remaining three years and $60.6 million off its cap sheet for an asset or assets that expire sooner.
The Lakers could help them with that. Los Angeles could offer Rui Hachimura and Jalen Hood-Schifino’s expiring deal for Monk.
Hachimura’s deal expires after next season, during which he’ll carry an $18.3 million cap hit.
If the Kings want to start re-working their roster around Domantas Sabonis (and possibly Fox) this summer, they’ll need optimal cap space to do so.
Turning Monk’s $60.6 million over three years into Hachimura’s $18.3 million over one year would be extremely healthy for that strategy.
The Lakers love what Hachimura brings to the table (he’s good enough to start on most NBA teams), but they might feel that the 3-point sniper Monk is a better fit next to Anthony Davis and LeBron James.
Who says no?