Malik Monk has found redemption and a home with the Lakers, writes Jovan Buha of The Athletic. It’s an interesting, in-depth profile/interview with the 24-year-old guard and his older brother Marcus, a former NFL player, who serves as Monk’s agent.
As Buha relays, Monk had a bumpy road with Charlotte and his value was depressed due to inconsistent play and violating the league’s anti-drug program in 2019/20. The Lakers tried to trade for Monk in ’19/20 and ’20/21, but the Hornets didn’t budge and said Monk was part of their future.
After the Hornets refused to trade him, Monk was then surprised that they didn’t tender him a qualifying offer or re-sign him last summer after he had the best season of his career to that point. Those moves further hurt his reputation around the league, according to Buha.
“Teams don’t have access to all the information on the character of a person and who the person is,” Marcus said. “They’re not in the locker rooms. … I think all of that stuff played into why there wasn’t much interest. And, from me looking at it as if I’m the other 29 teams, I don’t blame them. … All of those things needed to happen. If those things wouldn’t have happened, he would be in the mindset that he’s in right now.
“He’s literally trying to kill every time he touches the floor. Because there are 29 other teams that had the opportunity to sign him.”
Monk thought he’d receive several multiyear offers above the league minimum, but only the Lakers and Mavericks called and offered him a minimum deal. He chose the Lakers because VP of basketball operations Rob Pelinka‘s pitch was both flattering and compelling to a young player looking for a consistent role.
“The Lakers just let me be me,” Monk said. “Let me play free. I’m going out there with a free mind, not worrying about a mistake, and if I’m gonna come out if I make a mistake. They just give me all the confidence to be me.”
Although the Lakers have had a disappointing season, Monk has been a bright spot. He’s averaging career-highs of 13.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 27.1 minutes per game, with a shooting slash line of .471/.399/.772 through 52 games. Monk will be an unrestricted free agent this summer and it might be a challenge for the Lakers to retain him — they only have his Non-Bird rights, so they’ll be limited to an offer of 120% of his minimum salary.
Here’s more on the Lakers:
- ESPN’s Brian Windhorst (Insider link) thinks that LeBron James is trying to force L.A. into major offseason moves with his recent comments and actions. James was reportedly unhappy that the team stood pat at the trade deadline and then was further upset by Pelinka’s comments stating that James and Anthony Davis had been consulted and were aligned with the inaction.
- In his latest column for Substack, Marc Stein says he isn’t convinced the Lakers will bend to LeBron’s will. As Stein explains, the franchise thinks highly of Pelinka, and James and agent Rich Paul are “still outsiders when it comes to the Lakers’ power dynamics.”
- Assistant coach Phil Handy says James has always done his best to create cohesion with teammates. “His approach has always been about, ‘Let me embrace the guys that are around me and how can we figure out ways to win? How can we figure out ways to get better?’ He’s always been a guy that is all in with whoever is in uniform with him,” Handy said, per Mark Medina of NBA.com.
Exactly
Lakers are monk’s dream home but Lakers are at the luxury tax home too
Monk market value
4 year $40 million
I agree the amount is the MLE for the non luxury tax-4/$43 Million.
If I am the Toronto Raptors, I would offer the full amount ,they have the cap space.
FVV, Trent Jr, OG, Barnes, Siakam’
Monk, would be the first player off the bench.
Raptors have bird rights for Young and Boucher, and will still be under the luxury tax for 2022.
IMO
Stay pad is correct because no one wants Westbrook except Rockets
Run it back next season is also correct because Lakers need to keep 2027 and 2029 draft picks
Draft picks overrated
For the Lakers somewhat since they are a good FA destination if they have clean books, but also trading picks that far out, especially without protections can be super risky as well since they are a big enough asset to get real value if theyre far future and unprotected, but teams are building around young cost controlled stars more now so it becomes the way to hack 4 max stars on a roster if one or two are on rookie deals.
Cost control is important. GSW arent the dynasty they became if Curry doesnt take 4/40M because of bad ankles right before the dynasty started, its literally the only reason they were able to add Durant to 3 all stars from the previous season.
James has already told lakers want he wants. Rob P out and Pesti(okc) in. My guess is lakers try to move AD, if the roster isn’t good enough LeBron ask for a trade. Lakers future isn’t bright(current roster)
Dont think Presti really wants to leave OKC after all the asset accumulation, but before it goes anywhere. He has some young talent and every future first round pick why would he leave that for a Lakers team where the GM is basically an empty suit that signs vet mins.
That’s easy to answer. The resources and talent pool in LA is easier to keep long term over okc. Durant, W-Brook and Harden all either traded or left in FA. Okc isn’t a FA destinations. Draft picks are nice but u can’t hit on every one
Your forgetting though just how long they had those guys before they left. Correct me if Im wrong, but they kept each of them outside Harden for 8+ years. So if you hit on say 3 superstars off of say 7 top 10 picks in a 3 year span you should have a good 3-6 year window when you can keep most together. They should maybe try to be the Rays of the NBA where they get most of the cheap years on stars and then deal them as they get close to UFA and more expensive for more picks and tertiary talent.
That’s because after the rookie deal u are RFA it’s really not until UFA that u really can get free. The fact is they really couldn’t keep them. Also it was know at the time they could keep all three(over money)
If I remember correctly. They chose Ibaka over Harden.
Monk is a good example of a young prospect. Who wasn’t really developed right or given the right mins. Then made to look like it was his failing. Yet he took what was given and went for it. Made the best of it. And came out on top and better for it. This is how you handle adversity. You use it as fuel to be better. I applaud Mr Monk …..
I would like to hear what the Lakers had offered for Monk. A second is a lot different from a first. But a bad situation, when a team sits on a player they do not even care about, just to give an impression they did not screw up their draft.
Lakers got what they wanted from Bron, a ring. They should take their team back. Trade him and AD now. They aren’t winning anymore with them. Get the high value now. Own it.
Extremely cool that Marcus Monk is his brothers agent now. It makes so much sense that nobody here knows who he is but he was a great WR for Arkansas for some of the best teams they’ve had this century. He was a pretty good basketball player for Arkansas as well. Sucks that Marcus had the injuries that kept him out of the NFL but awesome that he’s playing such a important role in his lil bros career
My ranking on trade value of 460 players
AD – 36th (3 year $120 million remaining)
LeBron 37th (expiring contract $44 million)
Westbrook 455th
Lakers future is 2027 and 2029 draft picks
The definitive rankings.
Might as well rename this site to Sillivanrumors. He does put in the work!
I just want to know who is 456, 457, 458, 459, and 460. Who has the least trade value?
Is Haslem one of them?
No wonder LBJ gets frustrated with the amount of lying that GM’s, FO’s & teams do these days!
Honesty is always the best policy, you can’t ever lose or look bad by telling the truth… meanwhile you can catch a liar quicker than you can catch a one legged man!
For only 2 teams to have made offers to Monk, the scuttle buck had to be overwhelming bad. And, never overvalue his worth on a single season… someone has to score the points on a bad team.
Drop AD and LeBron and send a message that The Lakers are run by the organization not the players. They are setting a terrible precedent. Silver needs to break up Klutch they are becoming too powerful!
Thats the message around the league. The league allows players to push teams around if theyre disgruntled. Theres no recourse like suspension under “conduct detrimental to the team”.
AD/Lebron
Simmons
Harden
Many players have thrown their weight around demanding to be traded and in some high profile instances where to be traded.
If youre the Thunder id push the timeline by acquiring Lebron James.
They have some great building blocks in SGA, Giddey, Dort.
Have good bench pieces too in Jerome, Robinson Earl, Roby. They just need to round out the roster with some veterans in the 2nd unit.
Might be time to push them into the next level.
Lakers get Favors, Muscala, Maledon, Aleksej, Kenrich and draft picks
Thunder get Lebron.
Lol so the Lakers get literally nothing of value.
For a team that has literally no draft picks or financial wiggle room to build a competitive roster they should be trading away everything and recoup as much draft capitol as they can.
The Lakers are not going anywhere!! They have bad contracts that they can’t move! I’ve been a fan since the 80’s however it may be the 2080’s before this team is competitive again. I hope that Jeanie Buss sells the team and Pelinka goes with her!