Lakers news: Latest Malik Monk report is extremely promising for LA

There is quite some time until the offseason officially begins and we start getting concrete Los Angeles Lakers news. In the coming weeks, though, the offseason will begin to shape up as we learn more about what direction the team wants to take and which direction it can physically take.

One of the biggest storylines this offseason is going to be the future of Malik Monk. Monk was one of the lone positives from the 2021-22 season but the flipside of that positive is that he potentially priced himself out of Los Angeles.

Earlier reports about Monk’s perceived value in the league seemed to definitely price him out of the Lakers’ price range. However, a new report about Monk’s perceived value flips that narrative, increasing the chances of him returning to the Lakers.

Lakers news: Malik Monk is expected to get between $6-10 million annually.

On a recent episode of the Hoops Hype Podcast, Michael Scotto said that league executives he is speaking to project Monk to get between $6-10 million annually this offseason. Scotto said the following:

"“I spoke to four NBA executives who projected Malik Monk to earn an average annual salary somewhere between the taxpayer and non-taxpayer mid-level exception as of now. That would project to be somewhere between roughly the $6-10 million annual range.”"

If this Lakers news ends up being a reality then it would be fantastic for the team. The most the Lakers can offer Monk is the Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception worth $6.4 million. Earlier in the offseason, it was expected that he would get almost double that annually from another team.

It is really hard to take a $6.4 million salary if another team is offering you a four-year deal that is worth $45 million. However, if Monk’s value is less than that then suddenly taking a one-year deal worth $6.4 million is not as bad of a look, especially if he wants to stay in LA.

Let’s say that Monk’s value is right in the middle of that range at $8 million and his top offer this summer is a four-year deal worth $32 million. While that is over $25 million more than the Lakers can pay him overall, Monk would not be sacrificing as much in 2021-22 with the understanding that LA will take care of him the following offseason.

Los Angeles will have cap space in the 2023 summer and at that point the Lakers could offer him a deal in the four-year, $45-50 million range. Overall, Monk could end up making $56.4 million over five years, which equates to $11.28 million per year. LA would have to slightly overpay him next summer but that would be the cost of him signing for cheaper this year.

Suddenly, Monk returning to LA not only seems possible, but seems likely as well. As long as another team does not come over the top with an absurd offer, we may not have seen the last of Malik Monk in the purple and gold.