{"id":170621,"date":"2025-12-23T14:30:52","date_gmt":"2025-12-23T19:30:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=170621"},"modified":"2025-12-23T14:30:52","modified_gmt":"2025-12-23T19:30:52","slug":"lakers-trade-rumors-malik-monk-reunion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/12\/23\/lakers-trade-rumors-malik-monk-reunion\/","title":{"rendered":"Ex-Laker Made Available in Trade Talks; Is a Reunion in the Cards?"},"content":{"rendered":"

A one-time Los Angeles Laker has fallen out of a rival\u2019s rotation. With LA\u2019s bench scoring becoming problematic, could they right the ship with a potential reunion?<\/span><\/p>\n

Ex-Laker Made Available in Trade Talks; Is a Reunion in the Cards?<\/b><\/h2>\n

Chris Haynes: Malik Monk on Trading Block<\/b><\/h3>\n

NBA insider Chris Haynes revealed Tuesday that Sacramento Kings guard Malik Monk is \u201c<\/span>available for trade<\/span><\/a>\u201d after exiting the rotation in favor of <\/span>Keon Ellis<\/span><\/a>, who is another <\/span>Lakers trade target<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Sacramento Kings, they\u2019re looking to get younger and they\u2019re looking to get more athletic. Malik Monk is somebody who plays extremely hard. He\u2019s a very dynamic player, one of the best sixth men we have in this league. So he presents a ton of value. It\u2019s just a logjam there in Sacramento.\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Monk, the runner-up for Sixth Man of the Year in <\/span>2023-24<\/span><\/a>, has still played well off the bench for the Kings. In 24 games (23 MPG), he has averaged 12.5 points, 2.0 rebounds and 2.4 assists on .437\/.411\/.837 splits. He packs an athletic scoring punch to his game while <\/span>steadily improving his defense<\/span><\/a>, tallying 19 steals and 11 blocks so far this season.<\/span><\/p>\n

In response to the series of benchings by head coach Doug Christie, <\/span>Monk said<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>“He just told me he’s trying something new.” <\/span>He added that the decision left him \u201cone thousand percent\u201d confused but noted, “I’ve been in the league long enough where I don’t let this stuff get to me.”<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Doug Christie says he approached Malik Monk after the game and thanked him for being a pro. <\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s part of what it is to be a part of a team and a good teammate. It was big time for him. It was five minutes, but they were really good five minutes that we needed.\u201d<\/p>\n

— Tristi Rodriguez (@tristi_r14) December 22, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n