Malik Monk might have found a better offer on the open market but he was content to stay with the Kings on a four-year, $78MM contract. Monk choose comfort over a few more dollar signs.
“It just felt right. Everything felt right,” Monk told Jason Anderson of the Sacramento Bee and other media members. “I don’t go anywhere and feel uncomfortable. I go everywhere and feel comfortable, and that’s a home, I feel like, so I’m back.”
Monk might have received close to $25MM per year and a starting role with some teams. Instead, he’ll likely resume his role as sixth man on the Kings. Monk informed the team 10 days before free agency began that he was staying put.
“Being a team player,” Monk said. “I could have took my money somewhere, but it felt like home here. Letting the organization know early was the least I could do, for sure, because we need a few more pieces and they’re looking for a few more pieces, so I think they’re doing their job.”
We have more on the Kings:
- The Athletic’s John Hollinger is conflicted over the Kings’ decision to pursue a sign-and-trade for DeMar DeRozan. The addition of DeRozan probably doesn’t vault them into the top five in the Western Conference, even during the regular season, Hollinger opines. However, they’re too good to tank, so there’s nothing wrong with upgrading the team methodically for a future run at the title.
- The team’s recruitment of DeRozan included having Jay Triano, the Kings’ lead assistant coach and DeRozan’s first NBA head coach, at the airport, according to The Athletic’s Anthony Slater. De’Aaron Fox also played a key role in DeRozan’s recruitment. DeRozan agreed to a three-year, $74MM deal with the third season partially guaranteed.
- In the same story, Slater notes that the Kings made a strong pitch early last week to acquire the Jazz’sLauri Markkanen in a trade. However, they were unwilling to give up Keegan Murray in a proposed deal. Instead, they made a substantial picks-based offer. They put a deadline on pursuing a trade with Utah and the Jazz didn’t meet it. There’s growing skepticism league-wide that Jazz executive Danny Ainge will actually move Markkanen, Slater adds.
Keegan needs to make a big jump this year, with Derozan I don’t think he hits the 20pt mark but 18-19 and 8rebs would be an increase along with defense. They make him untouchable in these trades so he needs to show it.
Yes good post and I feel the exact same way about Jonathan Kuminga with the warriors. Same has to be said and he has to make that jump this year.
Did anyone else feel like signing Derozan and getting rid of Barnes was a lateral move? I may need a reality check here. Derozan is a great offensive player, minus the 3-point consistency and volume. He can get any bucket at the rim and with the midrange and he’s a really good passer. He’s a solid defender. Barnes is a solid scorer who doesn’t score as much as he could, has good outside shooting, makes the right passes. He’s a good defender, if not better. So essentially, you’re trading 3-point shooting for volume inside/mid scoring. I feel like spacing the floor is more important to team success right now than just getting someone who scores more *often*. Of course, Derozan is crazy clutch, so that helps. I don’t know. I guess my opinion is that Derozan seems like a far superior player to Barnes, but may not be a better fit for the Kings.
Any thoughts on this?
I’ve kind of been souring on Harrison Barnes as just a guy. I think picking up DeRozan instead is a pretty big improvement. Barnes is okay and he’ll hold down the three spot suitably but DeRozan can win a game for you.
DeRozan can’t shoot the 3. His game will not age well
Dude, his game has already aged. No “will” about it.
It’s a 4 year deal. Age 36,37,38 isn’t going to be pretty for that $$ is all I’m saying. He’s not Lebron
It’s a 3 year deal and the last year is only partially guaranteed…
Demar is 34 and led the league in MPG last year, last year is who he is going to be until his next injury. He’s a high risk/high reward type the Kings need to have to compete.
Perfect example of someone who has never watched Demar play. Can’t blame you for not wanting to watch the Bulls I guess.
Demar is an elite shot creator. He can isolate from anywhere on the court. He excels in hitting extremely tough shots. All things the Kings offense was missing. I think the worst part of the pessimism Ive seen is that the Kings dont have shooters to space the floor. Fox shot 39% on 3pt shots off the catch. Keon has shot 42% over his career on catch and shoot 3s. Keegan has shot just under 40% on c&s 3s for his career on big volume. Malik Monk has shot 39% on c&s 3s over the last 3 seasons. How much more spacing can you ask for? The only non shooter Demar is going to play with is Sabonis and Im not going to spend 15 minutes drooling over Sabonis as an offensive hub and explaining how that unlocks a new level for Derozan.
Good post
DeRozan is a star but Barnes is a role player
DeRozan is consistent but Barnes is Not
Im getting this tattooed on me
All valid points – but I think it’s as simple as in the 4tj quarter one is a star and other is role player.
If Barnes were consistent he’d be great, but he disappears for multiple games. He’s also lost a step, so he isn’t the player he once was. A true professional, but DD is the biggest free agent signing in kings history
Derozan is not a solid defender. He’s below average.
You get more scoring with DDR but not on the Kings. He was the man in CHI but SAC has more scorers already. I see this as a slight upgrade but not astonishing. At least they kept Huerter.
Fun fact – Demar has 86 less points than Steph Curry over their careers. Steph – 3,747 3’s : Demar – 531 3’s.
The notion that Demar is anything less than an absolute bucket wherever he plays with whoever he plays with is just ridiculous.
The Kings haven’t won a playoff series in 20 years. They aren’t trying to win a championship. They’re trying to get to the second round. DeRozan helps with that.
Probably for the best for all teams involved. Guess that leaves the Heat, but that’s not very likely either.
Jazz acquire:
Brandin Podziemski
3 future first round picks from GSW
Bulls acquire:
Andrew Wiggins
Kevon Looney
Gary Payton II
Warriors acquire:
Lauri Markkanen
Zach LaVine
Money from mystery team to ease cap space
Mystery team acquires:
2nd round pick from GSW
Funny how this is even feasible, the new rules are trying to prevent superteams but GSW has one of the only paths to a superteam with this trade. Not sure any other team in the league has the wants/needs/capital like GSW has right now….
Funny how a troll turns a kings post about the warriors
Oh no. Be careful. He might mute you…LOL…He mutes everyone. He has posted the same post about 20 times. Sounds like he looking for attention.
So that’s why there’s no reply option… lol
What a terrible trade proposal…
Reports so far suggest Jazz have turned down much better deals than this.
I like the move for Sacramento… DeRozan will give them more than Barnes come playoff time. Did their defense suffer? Probably during the regular season, but his defense was better during the postseason runs in Toronto and the one in Chicago.
At the end of the day, they got a better player.
I like this for the Kings…
It’s not going to push them to contender status, but could see them in the WCF, at least a 2nd round team without having to see the play in…