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Report: Kings, Pistons could complete sign-and-trade for Malik Monk

The Sacramento Kings have reportedly found their new starting point guard, but is there more to this deal than meets the eye?

According to The Athletic‘s Fred Katz, the Kings reached an agreement with guard Dennis Schröder, who had been heavily linked to Sacramento in the days leading into free agency, on Monday afternoon.

While Katz’s report indicates that Schröder will eventually be heading West, it appears there is still work being done behind the scenes on a sign-and-trade deal that would send Kings guard Malik Monk to Detroit.

NBA insider Jake Fischer reported late Monday night that Sacramento is contemplating a swap with the Pistons that would send Monk, one of the Kings’ best players since the 2022-23 season, to Detroit in return for Schröder–but why?

An emerging option for the Pistons, sources say, is Detroit trading for Kings guard Malik Monk. Sounds like there’s a chance this deal, if agreed to, could turn into a sign-and-trade that brings Dennis Schroder to Sacramento.

— Jake Fischer (@JakeLFischer) July 1, 2025

If Sacramento is to sign Schröder to a two-year, $28 million deal — which has been the rumored figure — they would lose their entire mid-level exception ($14.1 million).

By swapping Monk’s $18.7 million salary for Schröder’s eventual $14 million, the Kings would maintain financial flexibility and would still be able to utilize the MLE in another deal.

Of course, the fact that Sacramento would look to move on from Monk in this fashion is an eyebrow-raising possibility, to say the least.

Monk, the Sixth Man of the Year runner-up in 2023-24, has played the best basketball of his career since joining the Beam Team in 2022. The 27-year-old holds averages of 15.3 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game over 214 games with the Kings.

New Sacramento general manager Scott Perry is evaluating each spot on the roster he inherited from former Executive of the Year winner Monte McNair, and there are whispers that Monk is a player Perry is motivated to move as he focuses on other areas of need.

The Kings currently have a surplus of large contracts, with Zach LaVine, Domantas Sabonis, and DeMar DeRozan leading the way. Monk’s modest $18 million salary for 2025-26 makes him more likely to be moved, although his value around the league is surprisingly low at the moment.

Several reports on Monday indicated that Sacramento is also considering signing former MVP Russell Westbrook, and that there is mutual interest between the two parties. By moving Monk in a sign-and-trade, the Kings would be able to ink Westbrook to a deal to fill the void as Sacramento’s backup floor general.

Will all of this come to fruition this week? We’ll find out, but it’s looking more likely that Monk’s time with the Kings could be nearing an end.

More on the Sacramento Kings & NBA Free Agency

While the Sacramento Kings didn’t have many key free agents heading into Monday’s moratorium, the decisions on Keon Ellis’ team option and Jake LaRavia’s free agency were their primary concerns.

New general manager Scott Perry picked up Ellis’ option, and now LaRavia is headed to a Pacific Division rival.

According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, free agent Jake LaRavia has agreed to a fully guaranteed two-year, $12 million deal with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Dorian Finney-Smith unexpectedly turned down his $15.4 million player option before signing a four-year, $52 million deal with the Houston Rockets. He was the first domino to change teams on Monday.

That left the Lakers without reliable wing depth, seemingly causing them to pivot to LaRavia.