Sources — Malik Monk remains with Kings on a four-year, $78 million contract

Free agent guard Malik Monk plans to sign a four-year, $78 million contract, including a player option, to return to the Sacramento Kings, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

Monk’s agents, Jeff Schwartz and Marcus Monk of Excel Basketball, were able to enter negotiations after the NBA Finals and avoid free agency with the maximum contract the Kings were allowed to pay Monk.

Monk, 26, is coming off back-to-back strong seasons in Sacramento under coach Mike Brown and alongside De’Aaron Fox, his former college defensive backmate at Kentucky. After averaging 13.5 points and 3.9 assists two years ago, he had career highs in points (15.1) and assists (5.1) for the Kings this past season.

Monk, who finished fifth in the Sixth Man of the Year voting two years ago and second this past season, revived his career with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2021-2022 after a subpar stint in his first four seasons with the Charlotte Hornets. He parlayed that success into a two-year deal with the Kings, and will now be part of Sacramento’s core.

Coming out of Kentucky, Monk was the 10th overall pick in the 2017 NBA draft out of Charlotte.

ESPN’s Tim Bontemps contributed to this report.