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Kings star Fox shares latest from Monk as NBA free agency looms originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Like the rest of us, Kings star point guard De’Aaron Fox has no clue what will happen when Malik Monk enters NBA free agency in just over a week.
One thing that remains, however, is Fox’s excitement for his friend who he’s had the opportunity to call his NBA teammate for the past two seasons.
“Yeah, definitely. I’ve never hit free agency before and this is technically his second time hitting free agency,” Fox said at Day 3 of his basketball camp in Rocklin, Calif (h/t Sactown Sports 1140). “Seeing the player he was when we signed him to the player he- I mean, I wouldn’t even say he’s become much of a different player. He was able to showcase more of what he could do.
“But him being able to be in this situation and obviously having multiple teams that are trying to come after him, I’m definitely happy for him. Obviously, we want him to stay but at the end of the day, he has to do what’s best for him.”
Monk earned $9.9 million during the 2023-24 season and likely will get more in the open market, where he’ll be one of the top free agents available.
Sacramento is limited in what it can offer Monk, with the most being a starting salary of $17.4 million, which would be a four-year, $77.9 million max long-term deal if extended without maximum allowable raises.
But a team with more salary-cap space could offer the 26-year-old a similar-length deal in the $100 million range — a payday that easily would be the biggest of Monk’s up-and-down NBA career.
Still, Fox, despite his close relationship with Monk dating back to their time at Kentucky, prefers to keep the business side of the sport out of their friendship.
“No. I don’t know,” Fox said when asked if he had an idea of how things will play out. “I don’t really ask him. Funny enough we saw him Monday and I’m not sure. We’re friends first and that side is that side. I don’t really ask him about it. I ask him where he’s been on vacation and where’s Fresh, how’s your mom doing, how’s your brother, how’s your nephew?
“I’m not really asking him anything about free…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/kings-star-fox-shares-latest-202323582.html
Author : NBC Sports BayArea
Publish date : 2024-06-21 01:54:53
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