Kings stars want Malik Monk back but understand NBAs business side NBC Sports Bay Area & California [Video]

Malik Monk didn’t play in the Kings’ season-ending NBA Play-In Tournament loss to the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday at Smoothie King Center, but his name was a hot topic in Sacramento’s locker room afterward.

The 26-year-old guard is set to become an unrestricted free agent in the offseason and will almost certainly be one of the most talked about and sought after players on the open market if he gets that far.

The Kings can re-sign Monk under the early Bird exception. He earned more than $19 million during his two seasons in Sacramento but likely will command much more than that as a free agent or if he and the Kings agree to an extension.

Despite being unable to play over the final three weeks of the season due to a sprained MCL in his right knee, the former first-round draft pick raised his value significantly while developing into one of the NBA’s best reserves, if not the best.

Before getting hurt, Monk was widely …