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Kings
Malik Monk knows he was part of the trade discussions that would have sent him to Golden State in a deal for Jonathan Kuminga.
Ultimately, the Warriors weren’t willing to take on Monk’s contract, which runs through 2027–28 and includes a player option, according to Jason Anderson of the Sacramento Bee.
Now that Kuminga has signed with Golden State, Monk says he’s focused on Sacramento, calling it his home and saying he “loves” it there.
“For some people, yeah, but for me, what I’ve been through, no,” Monk said of whether the trade rumors bothered him. “And my support system is amazing. My brother, my agent, my mom, they always keep me upbeat, but I came to talk to (new general manager Scott Perry), too, right before everything, and he told me the same thing my agent told me.
“I like that from Scott. I appreciate him for coming forward and telling me to come talk to him. That’s being professional. A lot of GMs don’t do that, so I thank Scott for that.”
Warriors
Jonathan Kuminga’s new two-year contract keeps him trade-eligible in mid-January and includes a team option, which means speculation about his future isn’t going anywhere, notes Nick Friedell of The Athletic.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr said he understands why Kuminga pushed for the best deal possible during contentious negotiations.
“I never begrudge any player for trying to get the best contract that he can,” Kerr said. “These are short careers, and so I want all our players to do well. How it gets there sometimes can be messy. I’m not worried about any of that.”
Kerr isn’t concerned about locker room issues either, saying he stayed in frequent contact with Kuminga over the summer and trusts his professionalism.
“I’ve known JK for four years now,” Kerr said. “He’s not that guy to come in and tear a team down.”
Suns
The Suns have exercised their 2026–27 rookie scale team option on Ryan Dunn, per Keith Smith of Spotrac. The decision locks in Dunn’s $2.78 million salary for next season.
The 28th pick in the 2024 draft, Dunn had a solid rookie year, appearing in 74 games (44 starts) and averaging 6.9 points and 3.6 rebounds while shooting 43 percent from the field.
His outside shooting still needs work, but his defensive presence has already stood out. Dunn is expected to compete with Royce O’Neale for a starting spot this season.
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