The Kings have agreed to a two-year, $19 million contract with free-agent guard Malik Monk, sources told The Athletic on Thursday. Monk, 24, averaged career highs of 13.8 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.9 assists in his first season with the Lakers after four in Charlotte.
Monk was one of the few bright spots in a disappointing season for the Lakers, who failed to reach the Play-In Tournament despite harboring championship aspirations.
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He chose to sign with the Kings and be paired with college teammate De'Aaron Fox, Sacramento's point guard who is heading into the second year of a max contract extension. The Kings were in need of help at shooting guard after not extending a qualifying offer to Donte DiVincenzo.
The Lakers were limited in what they could offer financially. “They might not be able to pay me as much as I want,” he told The Athletic’s Jovan Buha in an exclusive interview earlier in June. “But I could be here and be way more comfortable as a Laker than going to any other team (that would pay) me $5 million more. So it’s just me trying to figure out what team would really want me.”
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(Photo: Mark J. Rebilas / USA Today)