Guard Ready To Give Lakers Hometown Discount

While the Los Angeles Lakers work on the possibility of acquiring Kyrie Irving, one of the only bright spots of their 2021-22 season is apparently ready to return for a hometown discount. 

Impending free agent Malik Monk told Jovan Buha of The Athletic, “they might not be able to pay me as much as I want, but I could be here and be way more comfortable as a Laker than going to any other team and they're paying me $5 million more."

The most the Lakers can offer Monk is the taxpayer midlevel exception, about $6.3 million. Monk, says Buha, could command a multi-year deal worth $10 to $12 million annually on the open market, according to multiple league sources. 

Malik Monk, who will be an unrestricted free agent this summer is open taking less money to return to the Lakers.

(via @jovanbuha) pic.twitter.com/psAXGkS1gO

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) June 27, 2022

“He loved it here,” said Marcus Monk, Malik’s brother and agent. “He wants to be a Laker. … We're very loyal people. We're very thankful for the opportunity that this organization gave him. And we don't take those things lightly.”

The 23-year-old guard put up career-high numbers across the board in his first year in LA, averaging 13.8 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.9 assists, as well as shooting 39% from the three-point line. 

Photo Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports