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How chaotic is this week for you guys? How much do you read stuff and follow it all? Malik Monk: As much as you try not to see anything, you’re gonna see something. Especially for the guys that’s been traded—it’s a crazy, crazy week. You never know where you’re going to land at.
At media day, you talked about how you really put your roots into Sacramento this season. Does that change this deadline more for you? Malik Monk: Uh-huh. No, don’t change at all, man. Still here. Still got a few properties out here. So yeah, it ain’t gonna change.
The Kings were sifting through a variety of Ellis scenarios Friday, league sources say, including larger trade constructions that could feature the likes of DeMar DeRozan, Malik Monk and Cleveland's Hunter. Word also surfaced that a specific three-team framework is being discussed between the Kings and Cavaliers that potentially includes Sacramento's Dennis Schroder.
Another trade variation discussed included Malik Monk and Ellis going to Cleveland for Hunter, but the Cavaliers were concerned about Monk’s $41.77 million over the next two seasons, HoopsHype has learned.
Sean Cunningham: Kings in Boston tonight: Domantas Sabonis out for the second night of the back-to-back (left knee injury management), as well as Russell Westbrook (right foot soreness). Malik Monk is available. Celtics without Jaylen Brown (hamstring/knee).
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In addition to Morant, Milwaukee was linked with trade interest in several notable names on the trade market, including Morant, Michael Porter Jr., Zach LaVine, Andrew Wiggins, Jerami Grant, Miles Bridges, Malik Monk, Keon Ellis, and other players. However, with Antetokounmpo out for a significant amount of time, there’s less urgency for the Bucks to act immediately.
While the Sacramento Kings have long been Kuminga's most interested suitor, league sources said there have been no recent traction in those talks. The Warriors have maintained no desire to absorb Malik Monk's or DeMar DeRozan's multiyear contracts in the deal, messaging to the Kings that they'd prefer an expiring contract back in a smaller-scale maneuver.
The Sacramento Kings have shown the most consistent interest in acquiring Kuminga, league sources told HoopsHype. Over the summer, Sacramento was considering including a protected first-round draft pick along with Malik Monk in sign-and-trade discussions for Kuminga, sources said. However, the Kings are now unwilling to part with a first-round pick and would likely need a third team to ultimately acquire Kuminga, with the Warriors remaining uninterested in acquiring Monk and preferring expiring contracts, HoopsHype has learned.
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Portis and another unidentified minimum-salary player have also come up in talks with the Sacramento Kings in exploratory conversations involving Keon Ellis and Malik Monk, league sources told HoopsHype. Milwaukee has eyed scoring help, which Monk could theoretically provide, and Ellis has been on their radar as well.
Matt George: Malik Monk's name has been constantly brought up in Jonathan Kuminga talks for months. But I got an interesting note this morning: Going back to the summer, the Sacramento Kings were pretty eager to try and move Monk & his contract. As of now, that's changed. A source tells me the Kings are comfortable with keeping him and don't appear to be actively shopping him at this time.
The problem at the moment, it seems, is that the primary path to a Kuminga deal that was there in the summer appears to have disappeared. While team sources say the Sacramento Kings still have significant interest in Kuminga, the final offer that was rebuffed in the offseason — veteran guard Malik Monk and a 2030 first-round pick (top-12 protected) in exchange for Kuminga — is no longer in play.
League sources said the Warriors have been prioritizing expiring contracts in return for Kuminga. They've declined the idea of taking back long-term contracts unless they view it as no-brainer positive value. That's been the hold up in conversations with Sacramento. The Warriors refuse to absorb the three years and $60.4 million remaining on Malik Monk's deal, though league sources said Keon Ellis (on a cheap expiring deal) is a potential sweetener of interest to them.
