Kings writer shares why Spurs could steal Malik Monk this summer

The Spurs' front office needs to have all hands on deck going into the 2024 offseason. With 34.4 million in projected cap space, according to Spotrac, there's a lot of money to spend on the most crucial off-season in recent memory. Victor Wembanyama's rookie season has given us many jaw-dropping moments. Still, it also told fans that he doesn't need to wait to spring into stardom as he may already be a top twenty player in the association.

With the amount of cap and draft capital San Antonio will own this offseason, now is the time for Brian Wright to begin to put a championship-caliber team around him. It also makes sense to start capitalizing now while Wembanyama remains on his rookie contract, which would allow the Spurs to spend more money to form the best possible team around him.

Kings writer shares the possibility of Spurs landing Malik Monk

Kings writer Elaine Blum took to the streets to explain how the Spurs could acquire Monk this offseason. With the substantial lack of depth on the roster, the Spurs need to do much more than acquire the Robin to Wemby's Batman. It's no hidden secret that the supporting cast desperately needs an upgrade, and Monk would be just that.

Monk is a starting-caliber guard for most teams. However, he's accepted his role as the sixth man for Sacramento, resulting in Monk being the favorite to win the Sixth-Man of the Year award, according to FanDuel, who has him favored with odds of -1050.

For those unfamiliar with Malik's game, this is one of the most explosive scorers you can find on the market. You can find him comfortable shooting anywhere on the court. He thrives in the pick-and-roll alongside Sabonis, and you can rely on him to find the open man. Primarily, when he drives to the basket, he generates assists on 16.9% of his drives, which leads the NBA, and he only averages 26.3 minutes on the season.

There is a much-needed presence for a crafty scorer such as Monk, who can be a substantial piece in this young squad. Lonnie Walker was the last player to fit this role but struggled to find consistency in his time with the Spurs. The former Kentucky Wildcat bounced around between the Hornets and Lakers before landing in Sacramento, where he's built a reputation as one of the top spark plugs off the bench.

The Spurs dig themselves holes once the bench unit comes in, as it's one of the weaker units in the league. While there are notable players like Blake Wesley, who's vastly improved as the season progressed, and Keldon Johnson, who you never know what you'll get with him, this second unit needs firepower. Monk provides scoring consistency, which the bench is in dire need of.

Malik is averaging 15.6 PPG and 5.2 APG on 44.3/35.1/88.3 splits. He brings scoring and is a primary ball handler who can create shots for teammates. Monk also has that 'it' factor and is fully capable of going for 30–40 on any given night. He will become an unrestricted free agent this summer and meets all the criteria this team seeks. With money to spend, Monk should be at the top of the Spurs free agent list.