Getty Lakers star LeBron James stands next to Malik Monk and Carmelo Anthony.
Eight players from this year’s Los Angeles Lakers roster will become unrestricted free agents this summer. Many of them will not be back in L.A. next season, including one of LeBron James’ favorite teammates, according to Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report.
In his April 14 column, Buckley projected landing spots for the Lakers’ top three free agents, predicting that shooting guard Malik Monk will sign with the Detroit Pistons.
“L.A.’s minimum investment in Malik Monk was a smashing success,” Buckley wrote. “Frankly, it went too well for anyone hoping he’d run it back with the Purple and Gold next season. … Given the priority placed on perimeter shooting, Monk’s three-ball and ignitable scoring should fetch him a deal richer than what the Lakers can pay. Prediction: Monk signs with the Detroit Pistons.”
Monk played well for the Lakers this season, averaging 13.8 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.9 assists while shooting 47.3% from the floor, 39.1% from beyond the arc and 79.5% from the free-throw line. Monk, who made $1,789,256 in 2021-22, is interested in re-signing with the Lakers, but Buckley said he didn’t see that being financially feasible.
Monk Might Have Played His Way Out of L.A.
As it stands, the Lakers would be able to re-sign Monk only by either offering him 120% of the veteran minimum (roughly $2 million) or using the taxpayer’s mid-level exception, estimated to be worth around $6.3 million.
According to Sean Deveney of Heavy, Monk is going to command much more money than what the Lakers can offer him on the open market.
“Monk figures to be a mid-level exception player, at worst, on the open market and could fetch a deal in the three-year, $32 million (or four-year, $45 million) range, according to sources around the league,” Deveney wrote on April 12. “He could make some of that back by signing with the Lakers the following summer when the Lakers can pay him a mid-level deal themselves, but it would cost Monk up-front money and put him at enormous injury risk.”
In a feature on Monk written by ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, James spoke glowingly about the scoring guard, who has career averages of 10.3 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists in five seasons with the Charlotte Hornets and the Lakers.
LeBron Is a Big Fan of Monk
When Jason Kidd was an assistant coach on the Lakers, he and James would talk often about Monk, according to McMenamin’s story. Kidd would watch Hornets games with James and tell the Lakers coaching staff about how he tried to trade for Monk when he coached the Milwaukee Bucks.
“He brings a knockout punch that — to be completely honest with you — we haven’t had on our roster since I got here,” LeBron told McMenamin. “Someone that can literally, if he makes one, it can be two, three, four, five in a row. … Me and J-Kidd were talking all the time like, ‘Is there a way we can snatch this guy from [Charlotte’s] roster?'”
During his April 11 exit interview with reporters, Monk said money was not the greatest factor in his summer decision. However, the Lakers would likely have to pull some financial strings to bring him back.
“It’s really me being comfortable, feeling like at home, whether that’s here or somewhere else with a little money, or more money,” he said. “It’s really me feeling at home most of the time. The money matters, but I know what I can do on the court, and I can go out there and earn that. And I think I proved that, so, yeah, it really just me feeling at home and wanted.”