I knew if Malik Monk had a big game against the Detroit Pistons, he’d move up the list of trade targets fans are dreaming about as the deadline approaches.
Monk scored 19 points in 22 minutes, shooting 7-of-11 from the floor, knocked down 3-of-5 from long range and blocked three shots, so if this was his audition for the trade deadline, it was a good one.
In some ways, Monk is the perfect fit as a lightning-in-a-bottle bench scorer who can get hot and put up points in a hurry, something the Pistons have been missing since they were unable to retain Malik Beasley.
Monk is shooting a career-high 42.7 percent from 3-point range this season, so he’d also offer some floor spacing to a team that desperately needs it in the half court. He’s also one of those guys with extreme confidence who could drop 30 on a given night or win you a playoff game.
Monk was a player the Pistons considered in the offseason when they were making the sign-and-trade deal for Dennis Schroder but they ultimately backed away, largely because of his contract.
Malik Monk’s contract won’t work for the Detroit Pistons
It’s been widely speculated that the Pistons are not going to make a big move at the trade deadline and could instead opt to use their trade exception to take on a player without having to sacrifice anyone.
Monk’s $18 million does not fit into the Pistons’ TPE, so they’d have to send out matching salary, which they don’t really have. There’s also the issue that Monk’s deal increases to $21.5 million over the next two seasons, the last of which is a player option.
Note: Notice how many bad teams give out player options to non-stars? I do. And it’s something to avoid at all costs.
That’s a steep cost for a player who scores 12.5ppg even if he can blow up on a given night.
Trajan Langdon has been reluctant to go over two years for anyone, and it’s difficult to see him doing it for Monk, who would probably love to be emancipated from the dumpster fire known as the Kings.
The only way this could feasibly work is if the Kings were willing to take back Caris LeVert, which would save Sacramento around $6 million next season and get them out of one extra year of Monk.
Even then it’s difficult to see Langdon committing upwards of $20 million for a role player who comes off the bench for the stinking Kings, even though Monk did play well last night.
The Kings screwed themselves as usual by offering Monk a four-year deal that no one else was offering, which made it challenging to trade him.