10 Former players that have excelled since leaving the Los Angles Lakers

8. Malik Monk, Sacramento Kings

After four seasons of limited playing time with the Charlotte Hornets, Malik Monk signed for less than market value on a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Lakers. It was viewed as a gamble on himself, as well as a matter of faith being placed in the Lakers organization.

Monk rewarded that faith to the point of earning a two-year, $19 million contract with the Sacramento Kings just one offseason later.

In a disaster of a 2021-22 season, Monk was a bright spot for the Lakers as an athletic and aggressive scoring option. He put up 13.8 points per game while shooting at an efficient clip of .473/.391/.795, good for an eFG% of .578—4.6 percent higher than the league average.

Monk may have signed with the Kings in 2022, but his bridge year with the Lakers was a gratifying story of a player who wanted to be here and rewarded the team's faith in him.

Since joining the Kings, Monk has finished in the top five in Sixth Man of the Year voting in each of his two seasons. His production is generally similar to what he did in Los Angeles, and his efficiency has taken a hit, but he's excelled in a role that asks him to be as aggressive as possible—efficiency be damned.

Now an unrestricted free agent, expect Monk to appear in a number of Lakers rumors between now and July 1.