The Los Angeles Lakers are in a pretty good spot heading into 2026-27. They basically changed half the team this summer, leading the NBA with eight new additions, and now Luka Doncic has way more depth around him. The offense should be one of the best in the league, while guys like Walker Kessler, Quentin Grimes, and Matisse Thybulle should help a defense that is poised to make a pretty big step up for next season.
Still, there is always room to add another couple of solid players, and Malik Monk plus De’Anthony Melton would fit this new roster pretty nicely. The Lakers also have 16 players on standard contracts right now, one above the regular-season limit, so somebody has to get traded or waived before Opening Night anyway. Why not use that little roster problem to make the team better?
The price would be getting out of Jarred Vanderbilt’s heavy contract, moving Dalton Knecht and, sadly, giving up Bronny James too. I still want to see Bronny finally get a more stable NBA role this year, but if the Lakers are serious about winning with Doncic right now, he can’t really be untouchable in a trade that brings back two legit rotation players.
The Trade Idea
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Malik Monk, De’Anthony Melton
Sacramento Kings Receive: Dalton Knecht, Will Richard, 2031 second-round pick (via Lakers), 2033 second-round pick (via Lakers)
Golden State Warriors Receive: Jarred Vanderbilt, Bronny James, 2032 second-round pick (via Lakers)
The Lakers would move about $18.9 million in 2026-27 salary between Vanderbilt ($12.4 million), Knecht ($4.2 million), and Bronny ($2.3 million). They would bring back Monk at $20.2 million and Melton at $5.5 million, so around $25.7 million total. Los Angeles currently has a $201.3 million payroll, and the first apron sits at $209.0 million, so the Lakers side is pretty close financially.
The Kings would send Monk’s $20.2 million salary and take back only Knecht and Will Richard, who make around $6.4 million combined, while also getting two second-round picks. Golden State would send around $7.6 million between Melton and Richard and take back roughly $14.7 million with Vanderbilt and Bronny, so that Warriors part would need some extra adjustment after this move to get finalized.
Why The Lakers Do It
Let’s start with Sacramento, because I don’t think getting Malik Monk out of there would be impossible at all. The Kings were terrible last season, finishing 22-60, then waived DeMar DeRozan in July and used the No. 7 pick on Darius Acuff Jr. After a season like that and those moves, another rebuilding year feels much more likely than some random playoff push.
That makes Monk a pretty obvious veteran to call about. He is 28 years old, makes $20.2 million this season, and has a $21.6 million player option for 2027-28. Those aren’t horrible numbers, but it is a lot of money for somebody who had only 12.5 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 3.0 assists in 22.0 minutes last season.
The good part is that his efficiency stayed strong. Monk shot 43.8% from the field and 39.5% from three on 5.1 attempts, including 41.2% on shots from 25 to 29 feet. He can still shoot off the catch, pull up after a screen, and create a little offense by himself, which is probably more important for the Lakers than his raw scoring average.
And the fit is pretty obvious. Luka and Austin Reaves are going to have the ball a ton, but the Lakers still need somebody who can come off the bench and just score for six or seven minutes without everything going through Luka. Monk can do that, and he can also stay on the floor with Luka because teams can’t just leave a 39.5% shooter alone.
We already know he can play for the Lakers too. Monk had his first really strong NBA season there in 2021-22 before leaving for Sacramento, and he is a better passer now than he was back then. Bringing him back wouldn’t be some emotional reunion move either. He actually fills a role this roster could use.
Then comes De’Anthony Melton, and I might like his fit even more. He came back from his ACL injury and put up a career-high 12.3 points last season, adding 3.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.6 steals in only 23.0 minutes across 49 games. The jumper wasn’t good at all, only 29.4% from three, but that isn’t really why the Lakers would want him.
He gives them another guard who can actually defend the ball. Put Melton, Thybulle, and Grimes around Luka and suddenly JJ Redick has several guys who can chase guards, fight through screens, and create turnovers while Doncic saves energy for offense. Melton had 77 steals in only 1,125 minutes last season, which is pretty wild production for a bench guard.
That also gives Redick some fun lineup choices. Need offense? Monk and Grimes get more minutes. Need defense? Go Melton and Thybulle. Need another ball-handler next to Reaves while Luka sits? Monk can do that too. It isn’t complicated, but it makes the rotation a lot easier to adjust depending on the matchup.
The Other Two Teams Get Something Too
Sacramento would get two young players and two second-round picks instead of paying Monk more than $20.0 million during a rebuild. Dalton Knecht had a disappointing second season with only 4.2 points in 10.2 minutes, but he shot 37.6% from three as a rookie and is still worth another look with a bigger role.
Will Richard is probably even more interesting for the Kings right now. He had 6.4 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 1.2 steals in 20.0 minutes as a rookie, shooting 46.8% from the field. Sacramento needs younger perimeter players, so Richard plus Knecht and two future seconds feels way more needed for its current direction than holding Monk through another losing season.
For the Warriors, Vanderbilt is basically the reason to listen. Golden State went only 37-45 last season, and adding another 6-foot-8 defensive forward around Stephen Curry could help, especially with Jimmy Butler’s return still expected late in the season. Vanderbilt’s $12.4 million contract isn’t pretty, but his defense and rebounding are still useful in the right lineup.
Bronny would be the younger swing, and Golden State would also get the Lakers’ 2032 second-round pick. Losing Melton and Richard isn’t nothing, so I don’t think the Warriors would love this immediately, but Vanderbilt at least gives them a player with a very obvious role that they sort of need right now.
Should The Lakers Do It?
For me, yeah. The Lakers would be moving three players who aren’t guaranteed major roles for two guards they could use immediately. Monk gives them shooting and bench offense, Melton gives them perimeter defense, and neither needs the offense built around him.
The part that makes me like it even more is the draft cost. Los Angeles would send three second-round picks but keep all of its first-round assets, which leaves another bigger move available later if the right player hits the market.
I would hate giving up Bronny before seeing what he can do with a more expanded NBA role, and Knecht could still bounce back too. But with Luka entering his prime, the Lakers are way past the point of waiting two or three years on everybody. Monk and Melton help now, and that is what this roster should care about.
