3 reasons why Malik Monk should ditch the Los Angeles Lakers

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 03: Malik Monk #11 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts to his three point basket in the second half against the Los Angeles Clippers at Crypto.com Arena on February 03, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 03: Malik Monk #11 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts to his three point basket in the second half against the Los Angeles Clippers at Crypto.com Arena on February 03, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)
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(Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers

2. The Los Angeles Lakers are not going to be a contender next season either

Perhaps Malik Monk could talk himself into one more one-year contract with the Los Angeles Lakers to try and win a championship and raise his value even more in the process. There is nothing better a role player can do than win a championship and play a role on that team. If the Lakers won the title and Monk averaged 14 a game in the finals his value suddenly shoots up to $12 million a season.

The problem is that the Lakers are not going to be contenders next season either. Unless Monk just has blind faith in the Lakers for no reason, it is hard to see him talking himself into another one-year deal if the hope is to win a title.

The same issues that are going to keep the Lakers from paying Monk are the same issues that are going to keep the team uncompetitive next season. There are no outs for the Lakers and next season is likely going to be a rinse and repeat year for LA.

Even worse, LeBron and AD are only going to get older. LeBron is going to eventually start regressing with age and it is impossible to expect AD to finally be able to play 70 games in a season without getting injured.

Westbrook will still be there and the team will probably cycle out the existing veteran minimum players for other veteran minimum players. It won’t be fun next season, and quite frankly, it might not be fun in the immediate future, either.