The Lakers will likely make a strong effort to retain Malik Monk this summer, but they only hold Monk’s Non-Bird rights and would have to dip into their mid-level exception to sign the 24-year-old to a deal worth more than about $2.5MM. Even a deal using the taxpayer mid-level couldn’t start at more than about $6.4MM.
The Lakers’ cap limitations could open the door for another team to sign the former lottery pick, who will be an unrestricted free agent after enjoying a career year in Los Angeles. According to Sean Deveney of Heavy.com, sources around the league believe Monk could get the equivalent of the full non-taxpayer MLE ($10MM+ per year) on the open market.
One general manager who spoke to Deveney speculated that the Bulls, Cavaliers, and Mavericks will be suitors for Monk this offseason and also singled out the Knicks as a team to keep an eye on.
“The team to watch, if he is going to leave the Lakers, which he obviously should, is the Knicks,” the executive said. “They had interest in him last year, and some of it might depend on what happens with Evan Fournier, do they keep him or move him? But that is a team that needs talent, needs shooters and Monk will be a good value even at the mid-level.”
Here’s more on the Lakers:
- Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report considers six hypothetical Russell Westbrook trade scenarios and evaluates which of them are the most realistic — and which would appeal most to the Lakers.
- Westbrook exhibited a lack of self awareness during his end-of-season press conference on Monday, according to Jovan Buha of The Athletic, who says the point guard doubled down on past excuses and created new ones to absolve himself of responsibility for his disappointing season. “The famous ‘source’ stories that came out about myself, whether it be between me and the staff, me and Frank (Vogel), me and the fans, there’s just so many made-up stories that are not true,” Westbrook said, though he declined to give specific examples. “It’s just always having to fight against that constantly. It’s just not (being) given a fair chance.”
- In a column for The Los Angeles Times, Dylan Hernandez argues that LeBron James also didn’t accept enough responsibility for the Lakers’ struggles in 2021/22. While multiple reports have suggested that James and Anthony Davis played major roles in orchestrating the trade for Westbrook last summer, LeBron downplayed his involvement in roster moves. “Ask me my opinion, I’m going to give my opinion,” he said. “But at the end of the day, they’re going to make the decision that they feel is best for the franchise.”
- Conversely, in his own media exit interview, VP of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka made himself more accountable than he has in the past, though he didn’t look comfortable doing so, writes Bill Oram of The Athletic. Pelinka has two years left on his current contract with the Lakers, sources tell Oram, who says the GM is under significant pressure not to repeat this season’s disaster in 2022/23.
The article on Westbrook says where he could fit financially. What it doesn’t say is why in the world those trades make any sense for the team that would get him, other than getting out from under bad contracts. Maybe trading 2 bad contracts for one is a good move, but those 2 add up to Westbrook’s one, so where’s the real benefit? Is it less years?
A team not going any where or think Russ can lead them . Doesn’t hurt to get him on a one year deal. Not like he sign for many years. It just a huge one year deal. He just didn’t t fit with the lakers
That article never once made a compelling argument why the trade of Westbrook would benefit anyone but the lakers, why on earth would a rebuilding pacers team give up brogdon hield and turner in the same trade for Westbrook when they could ship them all to different teams for pure pick packages, Pacers have Halliburton and Duarte and I highly doubt they would want to tarnish the young guys with Westbrook’s absolutely delusional mind
The best situation for the Lakers is to keep him and let his contract expire. Expensive for one year but once he is gone in 2023/2024 season they will have spending money. Only player they can get back for him are bad contracts.
In the end ARC is probably correct but I don’t know if Jeanie and Mrs Rambis are strong enough to hold the fort thru the summer
You’re only looking at next year. Jordan doesn’t want to pay Hayward 32M in 23-24 and Rozier can be moved cause Ball is ready to roll. Brogdon is injury prone and have 3 years and Hield has 3 years. Both 29 on a rebuilding team. Westbrook is a valuable piece now that he’s on an expiring deal and then a team will be trying to get him at trade deadline as well to clear cap space.
It’s all about expectation
It depends on how far Westbrook can take Pacers in playoffs
If Pacers expect Westbrook take them to the second round playoffs, it benefits both team
Great trade
You all are wild, the only way the Pacers take Westbrook is if Lakers are giving up both first rounders with no protections, Pacers will have many suitors for brogdon and hield if they really want to trade them
Maybe Westbrook as a normal expiring deal could make some level of sense in certain scenarios, but not as the man himself. He is a headcase, a whiner, and would prioritize his own individual stats instead of helping to develop young talent on a rebuilding club. If I’m the GM of any rebuilding club, I don’t touch him. And if I’m the GM of any wannabe contender, again, I don’t touch him.
If I want to move those assets, I find other ways to get a deal done. All of those players have some value in the right situations. They shouldn’t be impossible to move.
If I’m Charlotte, I’d be concerned Westbrook could mess up the development of LaMelo. Sure, find a taker for Hayward, but don’t wreck a promising young team just to get some cap space next year.
Agreed. That’s why I don’t see a fit for him anywhere. Contenders won’t want him because he’ll refuse to come off the bench or stay in his lane and rebuilding teams won’t want him negatively impacting their young talent.
To make something happen, either Westbrook will need to have an epiphany or a front office will need to completely disregard the above logic.
The Knicks make sense if they want to get out from under Randle’s deal, which in my opinion is worth it. They could send any of Rose, Burks, or Noel with Randle and because all three of them are on expiring deals, the Lakers could retain a bit of financial flexibility along with taking on Randle.
Though, from a Lakers perspective, it doesn’t make much sense unless they really think Randle could help them win. Maybe he could, but I don’t know how his game would fit with James and AD.
I think the knicks makes the most sense too, even without shipping Randle they can make a package of vets to offset salary, then maybe they can sell themselves on Westbrook Randle working if they can bring in 3 shooters to start with them
Agreed 100%. I’ve said this in past threads and it seems the consensus here is that a Randle for Westbrook “makes no sense”.
Yet I ask—what other proposed deal makes *more* sense?
I’m as down on Randle as anyone, yet even I think he’s probably the best player LA could realistically obtain for Russ.
I think a lot of Randle’s issues this year were the result of this idea that he’s a #1 option. By contrast, if he was playing off of AD and LeBron, in theory, his looks become higher percentage, and his splits rise from god awful to at least respectable.
And then you have an elite rebounder and versatile defender and a guy who can create off the bounce (to an extent). Probably gives LA a higher ceiling than adding Malcolm Brogdon, IMO.
Having said that, it doesn’t seem like Rose & co are going to see it that way. But they should. This is actually a good opportunity to stash a potentially valuable future LA pick and retool around RJ w/ a clean cap sheet.
It’s really the only option out there at the moment but even then, given everything that went on in NY this past year, if I’m the Knicks I consider literally every other possible option to move Randle before I consider this one. And even then, I’d still be hard-pressed to do it.
It’s only one year, but Westbrook in the Big Apple would be an absolute nightmare for the franchise. If Knicks fans thought Randle was a pain, I can say is “Lol, good luck”.
And as you said, Randle to the Lakers isn’t a great fit to begin with. They’re better off biting the bullet and standing pat.
Russ would definitely be a disaster almost anywhere next year at his # (but especially in NYC), which is why I think if/when he gets traded a buyout is almost certain to follow
I see either a vet min or Beijing in his future
Hayward is going to be a laker I believe.
I doubt the Knicks will have any interest in Monk (whether or not they move Fournier). I doubt there is, but it is funny to think there might actually be, a real GM out there that thinks he’s a good fit with the Knicks.
Definitely not the Knicks M.O. to pay around 6 million for a 24 year old that scores 13.8ppg on
.478/.392/.795 that’s 6’7″ who has
shown that he can continue to develop into a very good defender.
There game plan has typically been to overpay mediocre vets on the decline of their careers as shown by last off season’s signing of Evan Fornier and Kemba Walker.
I said it was funny to believe a GM would think it. Not that you might think it.
He’d be a fine fit with the Knicks. He’s gotten better every year in the league and his TS% is up to almost 60%.
Ad and Russ for rose, rj and reddish with picks. Doesn’t match but heck why not ? Lakers get decent shooters and get away from Russ
If salaries don’t match, trade can’t happen. Why would they trade AD. The trade you suggested don’t even match AD salary
Lol this guy 2k’s!
Just push force trade.
If the Lakers could get Heild and Brogdon for Westbrook, you take that and run
LOL. Why not Tatum, Smart & Brown for Westbrook?
Absolutely. I believe they could do this if they include both their 27 and 29 1st rounders. Question is, do they wanna trade this picks? They didn’t in February
2 Firsts I think that deal gets done in all honesty. Lakers will talk to the 4~5 teams that could potentially have interest and balance the costs
Indy has already kicked back their window so this move would fall in line as well. Indy doesn’t have to keep those distant picks they can flip them in 24/25 when they start trending up
“…if he is going to leave the Lakers, which he obviously should…”
Oh, how the mighty have fallen.
Not sure why the Bulls would want Monk
with an already crowded backcourt.
Knicks don’t need Monk. We have plenty 2 guards. Plus Agbaji could be there for us in draft. Much rather have him. If Knicks do draft Agbaji or Duren. I expect a trade then. A sign n trade of Mitch plus for Grant.
Westbrook could work in NY. Cause he pushes the ball. And we got guys that can run with him. He could put up a triple double season with Knicks. But Randle would have to go. And I don’t see Lakers wanting Randle. It would have to be a three team deal. I don’t want to see Randle next yr. It’s Obi1 time. We have to find a team for Randle.
Malik Monk
13.8/3.4/2.9 (28.1 MPG)
.473/.391/.795
PER 14.4, TS .597 BPM -0.5
Evan Fournier
14.1/2.6/2.1 (29.5 MPG)
.417/.389/.708
PER 12.3 TS .554 BPM -0.7
Yes, I’d like to see Monk in NY. I think he’d be a solid SG prospect to slot next to RJ. Those two + cross your fingers with Reddish, Grimes, and Obi and we might actually have a decent crop of young wing players?
True, the Knicks have plenty of guards. The problem for us is none of them are that good. Monk doesn’t fill the gaping hole that is PG, but at least he’s shown an ability to be a capable starting SG—with upside, as he’s only 24. Worth the MLE
If he’s going to Ny Id want like a 4/40 over a 1/10 I think
No sense in paddling the ores if he’s not making it to the finish line
Dude creates a lot better than I thought, more athletic as well. Think he’s a 25 min bn player if used optimally. In this current free agency def worth the full mid level on a playoff ready team. Id even use some open cap on him if I was like OKC
Agreed, I would def want him locked up for at least 3 seasons given his age
Shocker! Lebron takes no responsibility for anything going wrong with his teams and then “demands respect” when everything goes right. Cue the fanboys jumping to his defense.
Pelinka is pretty much stealing money from the lakers at this point. Why they would trust him for another go around is baffling.
But if he pulls a rabbit this time I’ll believe. Still, I can’t see how he does it from here.