There hasn’t been much to get excited about when it comes to the Los Angeles Lakers this season. A team that was considered one of the favorites to compete for the NBA Championship will be lucky to even make the final field of eight through the NBA Play-In Tournament.
Turmoil has taken over the Lakers, as most of the chatter surrounding the team is about what could come next. There is likely going to be a complete overhaul of the front office, coaching staff and roster as the organization will look to get back to their winning ways next season.
One player they are hopeful can return and be a part of that turnaround next season is Malik Monk. Monk has been one of the few bright spots in what has been a dim season for the Lakers. The 11th overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft shocked a lot of people when he landed with the Lakers on a veteran’s minimum deal.
Monk could have certainly signed for a little more money elsewhere, but he and his agent were on the lookout for the best fit for him and they landed on the Lakers. It was a unique opportunity for Monk to continue learning how to be a pro while improving his stock around the league.
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He has accomplished just that. Monk is receiving the first extended playing time of his career and is making the most of it. He is in the midst of his most efficient shooting season, making 46.4 percent of his shots overall and 39.4 percent of his 3-point attempts, resulting in a career-high 12.9 points per game.
He is also grabbing 3.4 rebounds and handing out 2.7 assists, as he is doing a little bit of everything for a Los Angeles Lakers team that has him in different roles throughout the season. He is grateful for the opportunity that he has received with the team.
“They put a lot of trust in me,” Monk says. “And I just feel comfortable, man, to go out and perform for them.”
Unfortunately for the Lakers, Malik Monk’s performance very well could have played him out of their price range this offseason. Cash-strapped, Los Angeles can only offer him a 120% increase in his current contract, which would come out to about $2 million, or use the taxpayer’s mid-level exception, which is about $6.3 million.
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Given how well he has played, there is a good chance that he can earn more than that from another team. There are ways for Monk to earn more with the Los Angeles Lakers down the road, but that would require some trust from both sides.
“Right now, looking over this pretty-ass city, I’ll take that in, soak that in,” says Monk, who is in his first season with the Lakers. “Anything can happen, man. So I try to take in every little thing.”
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While it was something Malik Monk had broken in Charlotte, it sounds like everyone wants this to be a long-term relationship in Los Angeles. But, at the end of the day, the NBA is a business and Monk will do what he feels is best for him and his career.
