AUGUST 6: The Lakers have officially signed Monk, per a team release.
AUGUST 3: The Lakers are poised to add another sharpshooter to their roster, having agreed to a deal with free agent guard Malik Monk, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter link). It’s believed to be a minimum-salary contract, tweets Keith Smith of Spotrac.
Monk, a former 11th overall pick, struggled in his first three NBA seasons, making just 32.2% of his three-point attempts and serving a drug-related suspension in 2020. However, he emerged as a reliable role player in 2020/21, averaging 11.7 PPG on .434/.401/.819 shooting in 42 games (20.9 MPG).
The Hornets opted not to tender Monk a $7MM+ qualifying offer over the weekend, making him an unrestricted free agent and ensuring that a team like the Lakers can sign him outright without having to worry about an offer being matched.
After nearly acquiring Buddy Hield in a trade with Sacramento last week, the Lakers pivoted and agreed to acquire Russell Westbrook instead, creating a major need for shooting on the wing.
The team began to address that need by agreeing to minimum-salary deals with Wayne Ellington, Kent Bazemore, and Trevor Ariza on day one of free agency. Monk will give the Lakers another option for spacing the floor around their stars.
So much for “The Lakers won’t have a bench!”. The mental gymnastics acting like this team won’t be good will be hilarious.
It was fun wasn’t it, I had a ball taking it all in, bc all along us Lakers fans sat knowing that in little wee bit of time we were going to mop up
My highlight so far was the Shams drop on How Bazemore went with LAL for less money b/c he wanted to join a contender . Priceless!
Pelinka is a straight baller, we are lucky as hell too have him
Over or under 7.5 games with a full healthy roster?
Your asking the wrong person Freddy …Ask Vegas tho in about a month, they will give you a better answer that might surprise you a touch
Well, that’s generally how it goes for top contenders in certain markets. You’re able to sign guys you’d never be able to sign otherwise just because they want to win a championship. It’s kind of unfair tbh, seeing as the rich only get richer. And it’s doubly advantageous for the Lakers due to location, market, and pedigree.
But I agree that the folks who thought the Lakers wouldn’t be able to put together a decent bench were only fooling themselves. So long as the Lakers and Nets continue to be a threat for a title, they will always be able to mop up quality bench guys.
He’ll take their average age on the roster down by like 6 years and he’ll give them the same production as Buddy Hield at a cheaper rate.
Facts
What is his contract? Minimum
Or mle?
Id think full T-MLE or at least most of it
He’s probably Lakers best FA signing.
That’s not saying much, is it?
What does it say about the Rockets when you’re spending more time commenting on what other teams are doing than celebrating your own team’s moves lol
If they got Monk at the minimum that is a steal. Regardless what they are paying getting a 23 year old as good as Monk is a good thing.
Lakers lose a Pope but gain a Monk
This is a great signing. People are hating on the moves the Lakers have made but this team is far better than last years. They have shooters, they have guys who can play D and they have a 3 headed monster. No matter what at all times they should have at least one star player on the court at all times.
Agreed. People hate so much on the Westbrook trade. Say what you want the wizards don’t make the playoffs without him. I love what they’ve done.
Making the playoffs in the East is hardly an accomplishment. And it was a very different situation in DC. Westbrook was free to do whatever he wanted whenever he wanted. It won’t be the same with the Lakers.
Not saying things won’t work out. But there’s a chance they don’t. We’ll see.
I agree! Westbrook shows his love for the game so much more and plays so much harder than the majority of the other players in the league, so I like the move as well. Let´s just sit back and watch him run the point.
Celtics have Zero heat lol
Wow! Love this !
I been wanting monk since last season. Might mean tht gone but monk can play and shoot
In my opinion they have to keep THT because they need to have some guys for the future with AD. Maybe Monk can be another one. Hopefully at least one if their 2-way guys can be a part of their future. This strategy may work with Lebron in town but I think around AD without Lebron it won’t be as easy to throw together a team like this.
True but with lebron gone it likely won’t cost the 45 million dollars on one guy. With Russ and brown gone lakers clear 90 million which is ample for adding free agents
Between Westbrook, Melo, and Monk the Lakers are going to have some of the best shot selection in the league. It will be a thing of beauty!
LBJ didn’t want to bring back Danny Green very interesting.
Why would he?
So, the LA Senior Citizens sign a younger player?!
They needed someone to help them get up off the bench.
Who will help the Rockets out of the cellar?
The Lakers may have filled their bench but they just swapped names around. Howard for Drummond, Pope for Monk etc. Even Westbrook for Shroeder Westbrook’s a better player and has more heart but their both high usage guards that have horrible shot selection.
Westbrook is a hof player and a walking triple double lol Dennis doesn’t even come close . Howard is a lot better fit he knows his role and plays it well. Monk is young and comes a lot cheaper
I guess this means that the AARP will have to find something else to sponsor.
This is BS for the game
Did you post the same take when Durant joined the Warriors? If Monk wanted to play in LA, he wanted to play there.
It’s a good move. Young guys will get them thru season. Monk has a chance to up his value with a contender. Lakers have done all right, I must say. Still the West is very competitive. Even Clippers will have Kawhi back for playoffs. East and West are competitive. Means fun year. And you better stay healthy
Have 2 or 3 spots left
I assume they want to leave the last one open –
Preferably 1 more 3 and D –
They got one outta the Ariza Batum Otto cloud already but 1 more will be nice , tho they are rare and won’t hold much name value to what’s available Rn –
I like Mckkinie as an internal option as well reg season. Green is probably out of range Rn
Last spot either a b/u Pg who is def first or a 3rd C as insurance (whiteside?) I could see them waiting awhile for this slot and maybe making only 1 more add in the next week. This team is already a better shooting team than last years, some def stoppers at the 1~3 are the problem now, the age thing is highly overated imo
Age thing is not overrated . You need young players to Cary the load during the season so they can test Lebron and manage injuries for Westbrook and AD. Ariza has regressed defensively . I don’t see a lock down defender in the backcourt . Westbrook and Lebron don’t mesh together. They should of went for Lowry instead . Remember how Harden and Westbrook could not mesh because each wanted the ball in his hands more. Same will happen with Lebron. Anyways time will tell . Laker will still be a top three team in the west .
Winslow, mills, kanter, robin lopez,niang, payton.. There’s still a lot of FAs available to be had..
As a UK fan, I hope he does well up to the point when the Bucks and Lakers are playing each other in the 2022 NBA Finals.
Pretty much all the pieces I’ve talked about falling into place. For the depth scoring guard they needed, and shooting, they got a really good option, and he should be a strong fit