Kentucky Shooting Guard, Malik Monk
Malik Monk is an intriguing prospect. He is someone that can help virtually every team in the NBA, but it may not be in the role that he wants. Every player wants to be a starter, but Monk is someone that may be better suited to come off the bench given his size and skill set.
Monk is listed at only 6-feet-3 inches tall. That is undersized for a shooting guard, which is where he is projected to play. Some teams are hoping that he can develop the skills to play point guard. If not, he could be destined for a super sixth man role, similar to Lou Williams, Jamal Crawford, or what Eric Gordon does for the Houston Rockets now.
The reason he would excel in that role is that Monk can get buckets. Despite the limitations his size causes, Monk is easily the best scorer in this draft. He has deep range on his three-point shot. He attacks the basket relentlessly, as he is a capable scorer off the bounce.
Monk is very athletic. It helps him offensively, and provides hope for teams that he can be a good defender. There is a lot to like about Monk, but he does not have prototypical size. We have seen players that are undersized succeed, but it would be a big risk to select a tweener this high in the draft.
Monk would have a role right away. He could immediately replace Williams as the sixth man, or start at shooting guard. If he is going to start, it needs to be alongside a bigger guard. The Lakers have two in D’Angelo Russell and Jordan Clarkson. They are one of the few teams that could potentially make up for Monk’s biggest flaw in his size.