Malik Monk has been one of the Sacramento Kings’ most valuable players during this ‘Beam Team’ era, but will that remain the case in 2025-26?
According to ClutchPoints‘ Kris Pursiainen, the Toronto Raptors are showing interest in trading for Monk this offseason as they look to upgrade a roster that finished 30-52 this season (11th in the Eastern Conference).
Toronto has been listed as one of several teams that are currently pursuing a trade for the soon-to-be-traded Kevin Durant, although it appears that Houston or Miami are more likely destinations for the Phoenix Suns star.
If the Raptors fall short in their pursuit of Durant, they could shift their focus elsewhere, potentially moving Monk closer to the top of their wishlist.
However, it remains to be seen how new Kings general manager Scott Perry values Monk, and whether he’d rather hold onto the dynamic guard as he also looks to improve a Sacramento roster that fell short of expectations in the 2024-25 season.
The Toronto Raptors have shown interest in potentially trading for Kings guard Malik Monk. The interest from the Raptors dates back to at least February’s trade deadline, but league sources tell @ClutchPoints that Monk remains a target if the price is right.
Full story: pic.twitter.com/rKuxV1R9Z0
— Kris Pursiainen (@krispursiainen) June 17, 2025
More on Malik Monk
Malik Monk re-signed with the Kings last summer, inking a four-year, $78 million deal (player option for the final year) that locked him next to former Kentucky teammate De’Aaron Fox for years to come–or so it seemed.
Fox and Sacramento’s front office had a falling out this season that reached a boiling point once the Kings made the decision to fire former NBA Coach of the Year award winner Mike Brown in December, leading to Fox’s eventual trade to San Antonio in February.
With Fox out of the picture, Monk slid into the starting point guard role, which was unfamiliar territory during his NBA career–one that has seen him spend the majority of his time at the shooting guard spot.
Over 65 games, Malik Monk averaged career-highs in points (17.2), rebounds (3.8), and assists (5.6) per game, although his shooting percentages declined (43.9% FG and 32.5% 3PT).
Following a lengthy stretch as the Kings’ starting point guard, head coach Doug Christie returned Monk to his familiar role as Sixth Man as Sacramento continued to push towards the postseason.
Monk suffered a left calf strain with just three games remaining in the regular season, rendering him unavailable for the Western Conference Play-In Game, which the Kings went on to lose in blowout fashion against Dallas to end their season.
Does a Malik Monk-Raptors trade make sense?
During his end-of-season press conference, Malik Monk told the media that he was “all in” on wanting to remain in Sacramento.
“All in. All in. Don’t question that,” Monk said on April 17th.
While Monk may hope to play a fourth season in a Sacramento Kings uniform, Perry could look to dangle the guard in trade talks as he looks to re-tool–not rebuild–a roster that needs a facelift this summer.
Monk’s modest $17.3 million salary makes him a prime target for teams around the league, and Toronto jumps out as an intriguing possibility due to Perry’s link to two players: guard-forward RJ Barrett and guard Immanuel Quickley.
The New York Knicks drafted both Barrett and Quickley during Perry’s tenure as a front office executive for the team. Could this improve the chances of a potential Monk-Raptors swap? It’s possible, seeing that there have already been whispers that Sacramento had interest in Barrett.
Acquiring Barrett would come easier for Sacramento from a salary-matching standpoint. The veteran wing is due to make $27.7 million in 2025-26, while Quickley is set to haul in $32.5 million in each of the next four seasons.
Still, the Kings would need to include more than just Monk to make a potential Raptors deal happen, possibly even in a larger deal involving multiple teams and additional moving pieces.
With the 2025 NBA Draft approaching fast, the rumor mill will continue to turn. This surely won’t be the last time we see Monk’s name or Sacramento linked to potential deals as we move closer to the end of the NBA Finals and the start of the free agency and trade season.
More Kings coverage from Sactown Sports
June has arrived, meaning that the start of NBA free agency and trade season is right around the corner for the Sacramento Kings.
With new general manager Scott Perry, assistant general manager B.J. Armstrong, and head coach Doug Christie all being signed to their new positions in the early stages of the offseason, all eyes will soon shift to how this Kings roster is constructed for the 2025-26 season.
Sacramento is fresh off a 40-42 season that concluded in disappointing fashion–a blowout loss to the Dallas Mavericks at Golden 1 Center in the ninth vs. tenth seed Play-In Game, putting the finishing touches on a tumultuous season that included the firing of head coach Mike Brown and the trade of star guard De’Aaron Fox.
Not even one hour removed from their season-ending loss to Dallas, the Kings announced that 2022-23 Executive of the Year winner Monte McNair would not return as general manager.
Perry, who assumed the role as GM the following day, will have to make decisions on several key positions on his roster, including the starting point guard role.
It’s no secret that Sacramento is in the market for a starting guard, as they have already been linked to several players on the trade market, including former Defensive Player of the Year award winner Marcus Smart.
Does Marcus Smart make sense as a PG option for Sacramento?
What’s next for the Sacramento Kings offseason?
Although the Sacramento Kings do not own a first-round pick, they are in the process of preparing for June 25-26th’s 2025 NBA Draft.
Sacramento’s first-round pick was finally conveyed to Atlanta in what was the final ripple effect from the 2022 offseason trade that brought Kevin Huerter to the Kings.
While they won’t select in the first round, Sacramento owns the 42nd pick in the draft, meaning they will select at least one player on Day 2 (June 26th) of the draft.
Be sure to keep up on all Kings offseason news right here on Sactown Sports 1140, with live on-air coverage every Monday-Friday from 6 am to 6 pm PT.
Upcoming offseason schedule for the Sacramento Kings:
Wednesday, June 25th – 2025 NBA Draft
Monday, June 30th – NBA free agent negotiations can begin
Sunday, July 6th – NBA free agents can officially sign with teams
July 10th-20th – Las Vegas NBA Summer League
August TBD – Release of 2025-26 regular season schedule
September TBD – Start of NBA training camps for the 2025-26 season
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