The decline in form is so drastic! No wonder the Warriors refused to accept the Kings’ super sixth man?

In a previous NBA preseason game, the Portland Trail Blazers at home narrowly defeated the Sacramento Kings 124-123. After this game, the Trail Blazers achieved their first victory during the preseason, with a current record of 1 win and 1 loss; while the Kings suffered two consecutive losses during the preseason, with a current record of 0 wins and 2 losses.

In this game, the performance of the Kings' substitute backcourt general Malik Monk was still very disappointing. Monk played for 18 minutes and 8 seconds, making 2 of 6 shots, 0 of 1 from beyond the three-point line, and 4 of 4 free throws. He only scored 8 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists, and 2 fouls. His plus-minus value was as low as -11. Monk's performance on the offensive end is still not ideal, his scoring ability is still not fully utilized, and his offensive efficiency is also very average. Not only that, his ability in organizing and linking offenses is also very average, and his role on the defensive end is also very limited. Monk did not play his role as a super sixth man at all. Under his leadership, the team's second lineup performed in a mess, lacking sufficient competitiveness on both offense and defense. The team's overall situation was in a mess, which can also be reflected in his low plus-minus value. Monk's poor performance was also an important factor in the team suffering such a defeat.

In the NBA regular season last season, Monk played a total of 65 times on behalf of the Kings, averaging 31.6 minutes per game. He averaged 17.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game. He also had 2.4 turnovers and 2.4 fouls. He shot 43.9% from the field, 32.5% from the three-point range, and 86.5% from the free throw line. In the previous preseason game when the team lost to the Toronto Raptors, Monk made 2 of 5 shots, 1 of 3 from behind the three-point line, and 3 of 4 free throws in 14 minutes and 8 seconds of playing time. He scored 8 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal. He also had 2 fouls and a plus-minus value as low as -17.

In fact, Monk's performance in the second half of last season has already declined significantly. His offensive performance is also not as good as before. His data is largely based on his accumulation of a large number of ball rights. His actual effect on the court is very bad. On the other hand, Monk's contract is also a big problem. His current contract will not expire until the summer of 2028, and part of it is a player option for the 2027-28 season. Monk's salary in the new season is US$18.8 million, Monk's salary in the 2026-27 season is US$20.19 million, and Monk's salary in the 2027-28 season is US$21.58 million. It was also because Monk was in very average form last season and his contract was long and smelly. The Kings had no way to sell him. They also had no way to complete a sign-and-trade deal involving Jonathan Kuminga with the Golden State Warriors. Now that Monk's performance during the preseason has been so poor, his market price is likely to decline further.