Kings' Malik Monk Emotional Over Keon Ellis Trade

Monk says he "hates seeing" his close friend Ellis get traded away as Kings continue to dismantle 2023 playoff team.

Feb. 3, 2026 at 10:55pm

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Sacramento Kings guard Malik Monk expressed sadness over the team trading away his close friend and teammate Keon Ellis to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Monk said he "hates seeing anybody that I'm close friends with go," as the Kings continue to dismantle their 2023 playoff roster by dealing away key players.

Why it matters

The Kings' trade of Ellis and Dennis Schroder is just the latest move in the team's efforts to rebuild, as they currently sit in last place in the Western Conference with a 12-39 record. Monk's emotional reaction highlights the human toll of these roster changes on the players involved.

The details

The Kings traded Ellis and Schroder to the Cavaliers in exchange for De'Andre Hunter. Monk and Ellis had spent the past three and a half seasons together in Sacramento. Monk said he felt the team and GM Scott Perry thought the trades "were best for us to let them go." The Kings are expected to continue making moves ahead of the trade deadline as they look to reshape their roster.

  • The Kings traded Ellis and Schroder on February 3, 2026.

The players

Malik Monk

A guard for the Sacramento Kings who has been close friends with traded teammate Keon Ellis.

Keon Ellis

A guard who was traded by the Sacramento Kings to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Scott Perry

The general manager of the Sacramento Kings who made the decision to trade Ellis and Schroder.

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What they’re saying

“That's my dawg, man. Man, I hate seeing anybody that I'm close friends with go, but obviously it was on, they wanted to go, and I feel like the team, (Kings general manager) Scott (Perry), thought it was best for us to let them go. And yeah, man, it sucks seeing all the guys go, especially, like I said, when you're close.”

— Malik Monk, Sacramento Kings Guard

What’s next

The Kings are expected to continue making trades ahead of the NBA's February 9th trade deadline as they look to reshape their roster.

The takeaway

Malik Monk's emotional reaction to the trade of his close friend Keon Ellis highlights the human toll that roster changes can have on NBA players, especially when a team is in the midst of a major rebuilding effort like the Kings.