Lakers News: Malik Monk Says He'd 'Love' to Return to LA in 2022 NBA Free Agency

Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard and impending free agent Malik Monk said that he would love to play for L.A. again but that it was hard to predict his future plans at this time.

I wouldn't be lying if I said I didn't look at my future with anything. I would love to play here again. You never know what will happen with the NBA. You don't know what will happen. At the end of the day, it's a business. I would love to play here. I don't know. It is hard to call the future.

Monk signed a one-year contract with L.A. The fifth-year veteran has averaged 13.0 points on 47.1 percent shooting (39.9 percent from three-point range), 3.3 rebound and 2.4 assists this year.

Thanks to those efforts, the 24-year-old played himself into a longer and more lucrative deal next year.

Monk has averaged 16.8 points on 48.6 percent shooting and 4.0 rebound and 2.7 assists over the last 25 days.

He started 17 games as a replacement for Anthony Davis or LeBron James, who both sat due to injuries. Davis has a foot injury.

In a comeback win over the New York Knicks, the ex-Kentucky star scored 29 points. He averaged 23.3 points per game during the four-game win streak. 7.

L.A. is better when Monk is hot, going 8-2 in the 10 games where he has scored 22 or more points. He will undoubtedly have suitors after his big year, so the Lakers should look to bring him back into the mix.

Monk is a starter in the Lakers lineup. L.A., which is 27-31 and is in ninth place in the Western Conference, has a 106-101 win over the Utah Jazz before the All-Star Break that could set the team off on the right foot for the rest of the season.