15 Potential Lakers free agent targets with ties to LeBron James
By Tyler Watts
3. Malik Monk
Monk was on the verge of being a draft bust when he joined the Lakers. The 11th overall pick in 2017 played under 21 minutes per game in his fourth NBA season and the Hornets declined to make him a restricted free agent. He signed a one-year minimum deal with the Lakers in the 2021 offseason where he revived his career.
Monk proved he was a lethal shooter as his scoring efficiency increased. The 6’3 guard transformed into a dynamic sixth man and was an absolute steal for the Lakers on a minimum deal. He averaged 13.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 2.9 assists in 28.1 minutes per game.
The Lakers were limited in what they could offer in free agency, and Monk jumped at a two-year $19 million from the Kings. He continued to improve in Sacramento and finished second in the Sixth Man of the Year voting in 2024.
The Los Angeles Lakers would love to have Malik Monk back, but he will likely again command too much on the open market. The Kings expect the 26-year-old to be out of their price range too. Multiple teams will be interested in a sharpshooting guard, which could create a bidding war, especially in a weak free-agent class.