The Philadelphia 76ers bench production this postseason has been problematic. The second unit has basically watched their stars empty the tank to hold onto the win Monday evening in the MSG, but the back-up unit fell short once again. Maxey and Embiid combined for 69 points, but the rest of the group was unable to support them.
If the 76ers are not capable of making a deep playoff run this season, then the front office need to act fast in order to address roster issues starting with the bench unit. It is widely known that the Sixers will look to improve their roster this offseason with Tobias Harris' contract coming off the books, among many others.
The top target remains a superstar that can complement Maxey and Embiid. However, the 76ers should proceed to spend their cap space to build a capable roster around their star duo. If that's the case, then Malik Monk should be on their radar. Monk was among the three finalists to win the Sixth Man of the Year award.
More importantly, the Sacramento Kings' bench star was sidelined during the last few weeks of the regular season. During that stint, the Kings lost the home advantage in the play-in section and never came close to securing the 6th seed and avoiding the postseason's preliminary phase.
As a result, the Kings missed the playoffs as one of their basic offensive weapons was sitting on the bench, unable to help. Monk is playing like a starter slotted into the second unit. His ability to attack from all three levels and handle the rock makes him a perfect complimentary piece for the Philadelphia 76ers roster.
He has made big strides as a playmaker this season, and his shot-creating ability from every spot on the floor could come in handy. The Sixers are in a tough spot with their bench play this postseason as Kelly Oubre Jr. has gone cold, and the franchise might hesitate to offer him a more lucrative contract.
That said, with Monk improving steadily as a player during the last three seasons, Daryl Morey could bet on the dynamic combo guard if his plan for a bigger name does not come to fruition.
Reviewing Malik Monk career season with the Kings
Malik Monk had the most productive season of his career with the Sacramento Kings, coming off the bench in all 72 games he played. He put up 15.4 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 5.1 assists in 26 minutes per contest. The 26-minute mark was his highest average during his two seasons in Sacramento.
He shot a respectable 44.3% from the field and 35% from deep, while averaging a career-high in assists and AST% (29.0). He was the leader of the second unit, something that the Philadelphia 76ers missed during the two games they played against the Knicks. More precisely, the Sixers' bench players are a minus-12, which is the worst among teams that played two playoff games.
Monk had a positive impact in Sacramento, especially on the offensive end. His value is at an all-time high, and many teams could try to lure him away, including the Philadelphia 76ers, with much more cap space at their disposal. If the 76ers cannot bring a big-time superstar to Philadelphia, Monk could be a valid target.
Monk ended up second in the Sixth Man of the Year award, slightly missing the accolade to Minnesota Timberwolves Naz Reid. The Sixers will have at least $55 million of projected cap space in the coming summer, per Spotrac. If the Sixers fail to make noise with the current roster, Malik Monk might be what they need to elevate their play.