SACRAMENTO, CA — Fans of the Sacramento Kings have seen this movie before. A short-lived burst of optimism, followed by self-inflicted wounds. The latest episode? A botched handling of Malik Monk that once again leaves the organization looking like it never learns.
Kings Backtrack After Malik Monk Backlash To Save Face
Tyrese Haliburton just led the Indiana Pacers to the NBA Finals. Sacramento drafted him and traded him after 18 months. De’Aaron Fox was shipped to San Antonio in February, despite Haliburton’s fit alongside him being the reason Tyrese was traded. For a moment in 2023, it looked like the Kings had turned the corner. They finished the season as the third seed. Instead, they’ve slid back to square one.
The Malik Monk Fiasco
Even by Kings standards, the rumors were absurd. Reports surfaced that Sacramento considered trading Monk to clear room for Russell Westbrook. Monk is 27, in his prime, and just averaged 17.2 points and 5.6 assists last season. Westbrook is 36, clinging to relevance.
The backlash was immediate. Trading away one of the few dependable players on the roster for a declining guard? Kings fans weren’t having it. According to Marc Stein via The Stein Line, Sacramento has since cooled on those talks. But let’s be clear: they didn’t deny them.
Numbers Don’t Lie
Monk has embraced every role asked of him. Starter, sixth man, secondary playmaker. His assist numbers doubled since his time in Charlotte and Los Angeles.
Why would a franchise desperate for stability even float his name in trade discussions? In today’s Apron era, plenty of teams passed on Monk not because of fit, but cost. That context matters. What matters more is Sacramento’s willingness to consider Westbrook as the replacement.
Why Westbrook? Why Now?
Yes, Westbrook salvaged some of his reputation in Denver. But reports from ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne painted a different picture. Heated locker-room arguments. Teammates questioning his maturity. A style that wears thin over time.
He’s still the same player who nearly exited the league rather than accept a bench role. The same player his own agent dropped. Yet the Kings were ready to deal Monk to make space for him. With Dennis Schroder already signed, the obsession makes even less sense.
A Larger Problem
The Kings hired Scott Perry as GM to end these reckless moves. His Knicks tenure included Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle—moves that worked. But Sacramento still looks rudderless. The Kings’ Malik Monk rumors, whether dead or merely delayed, show decision-making hasn’t improved.
If ownership signs off on more blunders, then Perry’s presence won’t matter. Kings fans deserve better than recycled dysfunction disguised as strategy. Until leadership changes higher up, hope will keep dying in Sacramento.
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