The Los Angeles Lakers are shaping up to be a formidable force next season. With a starting lineup featuring Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, and LeBron James, their offense looks poised to rank among the NBA’s best. However, one glaring weakness remains: bench scoring. The Lakers’ top reserves, Marcus Smart and Jake LaRavia, bring valuable energy and defense but neither averaged double-digit points last season. This has fueled numerous trade rumors connecting the Lakers to sharpshooters and scoring wings who can provide instant offense off the bench.
One intriguing proposal comes from SB Nation’s Jacob Rude, who suggested a trade involving Malik Monk, the Sacramento Kings, and a lottery-protected 2031 first-round pick. In this scenario, the Kings would receive Gabe Vincent, Maxi Kleber, and the draft pick, while the Lakers would acquire Monk.
“I’m aware this is a ‘hear me out’ type of trade,” Rude concedes, “but from a value perspective, it makes sense.” He notes that Sacramento has spent much of the offseason trying to move Monk for lesser assets or to clear guard rotation space, with little success. “It’s hard to fathom what the Kings are doing,” he adds.
Lakers ‘Hear Me Out Trade’ For Malik Monk
Support Our Fight To End Fall Weddings
Monk, a former Laker himself, was a rare bright spot during the difficult 2021-22 season. Though he eventually priced himself out of Los Angeles, a reunion could be a compelling story. Moreover, adding Monk could provide the Lakers with a dynamic scorer and playmaker who has proven chemistry alongside LeBron James.
This potential trade also offers some strategic leverage. Should negotiations with Austin Reaves become complicated next summer, Monk could serve as a strong fallback option in the backcourt, though that scenario doesn’t currently appear likely.
Yet, the major concern with bringing Monk aboard is defense. With Reaves, Monk, and Doncic in the backcourt, the Lakers might struggle defensively, as none are known for lockdown perimeter defense. Whether the Lakers can afford to carry three players who are defensive liabilities remains a question.
For Sacramento, the trade would mean adding expiring contracts in Vincent and Kleber — both players who haven’t significantly impacted wins and aren’t expected to develop much further. The real value for the Kings is in the draft pick, which could help them bolster a roster that currently features several strong scorers but lacks defensive consistency.
The Kings, who retained core players like Domantas Sabonis, DeMar DeRozan, and Zach LaVine this offseason, have been linked to a number of moves aimed at refining their roster balance. Adding veterans like Dennis Schroder and drafting prospects like Nique Clifford and Maxime Raynaud signals a team that is trying to stay competitive while addressing depth needs.
Recently, trade rumors also floated the idea of Sacramento sending Monk to the Lakers for Rui Hachimura and additional draft picks. While that deal would upgrade the Kings’ forward depth and provide bench scoring, LA may be hesitant to part with a first-round pick for Monk, especially given the lottery protection involved.
Ultimately, the Lakers must weigh whether adding a scorer like Malik Monk off the bench is worth sacrificing valuable future draft capital. Given Sacramento’s apparent urgency to trade Monk and LAs need for bench firepower, the stars could align for a mutually beneficial deal — if the Lakers can stomach the defensive trade-offs.