The Lakers have long been admirers of Malik Monk, that much is clear.
According to LeBron James, they even tried to figure out ways to pry him away from Monk’s former team (the Charlotte Hornets) last season. But his contributions this season have gone far beyond even those already high expectations. Monk has elevated his game to a level that puts him in the conversation for best value in the league (he’s signed to a veteran’s minimum contract!).
Monk’s aptitude on the ball and ability to create have grown as he’s become more comfortable with the team, and his defensive ability — particularly on the ball, which was his greatest weakness heading into this season — has also progressed steadily.