It's now been three years since the Sacramento Kings signed Malik Monk [away from the Los Angeles Lakers](https://lakeshowlife.com/lakers-could-bring-back-fan-favorite-bargain-shrewd-move) and got a fantastic new piece for their future. It was a frustrating circumstance at the time, and looking back on it now, all Lakers fans can really do is laugh to keep from crying.
Monk has three seasons left on his current deal with his four-year, $77 million deal with the Kings, and many executives now believe that deal is underwater. According to The Athletic's Sam Vecenie, teams across the league would value Monk closer to the non-taxpayer midlevel range. That is approximately three years for $45 million, give or take. Whether or not the value is technically off depends on your perspective, but it is pretty clear that the Kings have been getting the better end of the deal ever since Monk left the Lakers.
That is what stings most about the whole situation. The Lakers helped Monk revitalize his career. His career trajectory had been a little shaky prior to that 2021-22 season in Los Angeles, but he found real confidence in the purple and gold uniform. He shot over 39 percent from three, averaged over 13 points per game, and played with a motor that fans genuinely appreciated. He looked like a young player who was figuring things out and could stick around for the long haul.
Losing Monk still hurts for Lakers fans
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But the Lakers were strapped financially and could not make a competitive offer, so Monk walked. And now, three years later, he is one of the most important players on the Kings' roster, while the Lakers have continued shuffling their bench rotation in search of something steady.
It's not just about the dollars either, it's about the development. Sacramento gave Monk a defined role and consistent minutes, and he responded by becoming one of the most dynamic bench scorers in the league. He has carved out a clear place in their system, and there is no doubt he would have helped the Lakers in multiple playoff runs over the past three years.
Some fans in Los Angeles may still cheer Monk on from afar, but they also know that letting him leave so easily may go down as one of the front office’s quietest missteps in recent memory.