The 2017 NBA Draft is close, and one name that has been linked with the Philadelphia 76ers is Malik Monk. Unfortunately, selecting him is a bad idea.
Yes, the Philadelphia 76ers need shooting. Yes, the Philadelphia 76ers need floor spacing. What the team does not need is an undersized two-guard who can’t create his own shot. That’s what Malik Monk is, and the Sixers should not use the third-overall pick on a player who cannot take over a game.
A Royal Pain
As the third ball handler in the starting lineup at the University of Kentucky, Monk was not heavily relied upon in isolation situations. He was relied upon to come off screens and hit shots in other catch-and-shoot situations, and he consistently hit from 3-point territory, shooting 39.7 percent from range. The bottom line is that he was not able to get open by himself, and even though the Sixers have Ben Simmons’ vision and passing at their disposal, Monk cannot rely on the 6-10 playmaker to find him for open looks.
Furthermore, Monk is a liability on defense due to his lack of size, strength, and athleticism. Brett Brown has prioritized defense in his time in Philly, and Monk will not add to that side of the ball at all if he is selected. He was helped by having De’Aaron Fox next to him in the backcourt at Kentucky, but if Monk is the choice in Philly, he will have to guard the best guards in the NBA. If the Philadelphia 76ers take a player at three who could be beaten by average guards on a regular basis, then Bryan Colangelo might as well trade Joel Embiid and start Jahlil Okafor, because picking Monk will show that defense is not a priority for the Sixers’ GM.
A little while ago, I wrote a piece breaking down how Monk could be this draft’s version of Russell Westbrook since each came out of college as undersized shooting guards. Obviously, that is much more of a pipe dream than it is a legitimate possibility because Monk lacks the strength, speed, and general athleticism that makes Westbrook so unique. The only thing that Monk does better than Westbrook did when entering the draft is shoot. Monk can’t go coast to coast and dunk on a much bigger defender like Westbrook can, and Monk can’t get open by himself like Westbrook can.
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If the Philadelphia 76ers choose a player with the third-overall pick who needs a screen set for him every time he wants to score, then the franchise is making a huge mistake. It’s easier to teach a player how to shoot than it is to teach a player how to run faster, jump higher, and be agiler. Kawhi Leonard is a great example of that: he came out of San Diego State as a great athlete who couldn’t shoot, but he worked on his shot and is now a superstar. An example of a player similar to Monk in the sense that he was a great shooter in college but couldn’t create his own shot is Jimmer Fredette, and he averaged just 7.6 points per game in his best NBA season after being the 10th overall pick.
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Monk could be a solid NBA player, but he does not have the potential to be a player worthy of the third-overall pick. At his ceiling, he can be Lou Williams with the ability to dunk. At his floor, he will be Jimmer but without the range. Sure, Lou Williams was good and entertaining for the Sixers, but just about every NBA fan will agree that a player of his caliber isn’t worthy of a top pick.