The Sacramento Kings and Detroit Pistons revisit a trade idea from last offseason in this mock NBA trade.
As the NBA Finals approach and the playoffs wind down, the offseason is drawing nearer. With the draft less than a month away, teams are expected to start making trades and adjusting their rosters soon.
For the Sacramento Kings, general manager Scott Perry should keep exploring all possible moves, including revisiting a deal that seemed nearly complete last offseason. The Kings and Detroit Pistons had extensive talks about a Dennis Schröder sign-and-trade, with Malik Monk’s future being the central issue but ultimately, Monk remained in Sacramento.
If the Pistons are still interested in Monk, Perry could reach out to revive discussions around a new trade that would give him something he appears likely to target this year: an expiring contract.
The Proposed Trade
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Sacramento Kings receive: Caris LeVert
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Detroit Pistons receive: Malik Monk, plus the 45th pick (via Charlotte)
Why the Kings would agree
Since Perry took over, the Kings have tried to move on from several veterans, but Schröder was the only one they managed to trade after his stint went sour quickly. Monk has been the subject of frequent trade rumors, yet remained a fan favorite in Sacramento all season. He put up another solid year, though his numbers dipped across the board to 12.5 points, 3.0 assists, and 1.9 rebounds. On the bright side, he bounced back from three-point range, hitting 39.5%. Still, Monk doesn’t seem to fit the Kings’ long-term plans. He was in and out of the rotation last season. If Perry doesn’t see Monk in the team’s future, Sacramento could become more aggressive including a second-round pick to shed his contract and gain flexibility with LeVert’s $14.8 million expiring deal.
Why the Pistons would agree
Detroit had nearly a perfect regular season, finishing first in the East at 60-22, but lost to Cleveland in the second round of the playoffs, leaving them searching for answers. LeVert averaged 7.4 points, 2.7 assists, and 2.0 rebounds on 41.7% shooting from the field and 33.3% from deep. He played 60 games at 19.2 minutes per night, making him a key part of Detroit’s rotation. But to go from great to elite, the Pistons need to upgrade on the margins. Monk offers a unique combination of scoring and playmaking off the bench, which could relieve pressure on Cade Cunningham during rest periods (though one could argue Daniss Jenkins could provide similar value at a lower cost). The trade market is tricky to predict right now, but adding a second-round pick would give Detroit a chance to bring in a young prospect or a polished older rookie who can contribute immediately on a cheaper contract.
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