NBA Mock Draft Pick #7 — Malik Monk, Point Guard, Kentucky
SBNation’s Minnesota Timberwolves’ blog Canis Hoopus explains their pick:
The Wolves are thrilled to add Malik Monk to our group of young talent. We think Monk is the best shooter in this draft, and three-point shooting, or lack thereof, is one of the areas that President and Head Coach Tom Thibodeau was looking to address this off-season. Monk is a fantastic start toward that goal. We imagine him evolving into a floor-spacing combo guard who can play next to any of the guards currently on the roster. We are confident after he excelled at Kentucky, which does a fantastic job developing players for the pro game, that he will develop into a strong contributor. That said, given how much young talent already abounds in Minnesota, we would have liked to consider trade possibilities with this pick.
Ridiculous Upside Analysis
On a Timberwolves team that features some of the best young talent in the NBA, you’d think that they wouldn’t have enough room for another rookie. However, that thought should immediately go out the window with the selection of Malik Monk. From the jump, Monk should be a key contributor to the Timberwolves due to him being a standout perimeter weapon. Shooting 41% from beyond the arc during SEC play, Monk should help out a team that’s in desperate need for perimeter shooting.
1. Boston Celtics - MARKELLE FULTZ, WASHINGTON
2. Los Angeles Lakers - LONZO BALL, UCLA
3. Philadelphia 76ers - JOSH JACKSON, KANSAS
4. Phoenix Suns - JONATHAN ISAAC, FLORIDA STATE
5. Sacramento Kings - DE’AARON FOX, KENTUCKY
6. Orlando Magic - JAYSON TATUM, DUKE
7. Minnesota Timberwolves - MALIK MONK, KENTUCKY
8. New York Knicks -
9. Dallas Mavericks -
10. Sacramento Kings -
11. Charlotte Hornets -
12. Detroit Pistons -
13. Denver Nuggets -
14. Miami Heat -
15. Portland Trail Blazers -
16. Chicago Bulls -
17. Milwaukee Bucks -
18. Indiana Pacers -
19. Atlanta Hawks -
20. Portland Trail Blazers -
21. Oklahoma City Thunder -
22. Brooklyn Nets -
23. Toronto Raptors -
24. Utah Jazz -
25. Orlando Magic -
26. Portland Trail Blazers -
27. Brooklyn Nets -
28. Los Angeles Lakers -
29. San Antonio Spurs -
30. Utah Jazz -
Comments
Did you get any respectable trade offers for the pick?
I guess Monk is as good as anyone given how this draft went. He’d be interesting to watch.
By Dan Antonio on 06.15.17 6:46pm
The sub head above is wrong
We were not allowed to trade picks this year. Much to my regret.
By Eric in Madison on 06.15.17 7:10pm
OK, that probably makes things go a lot faster.
That’s pretty close to a worst-case board for the Wolves. I would have been less happy if Monk had gone in place of Fox, but the rest is as bad as it gets.
By Dan Antonio on 06.15.17 7:19pm
Yeah, I fear the top 6 in real life
is going to play out like this, leaving the Wolves with the same choices I had. I seriously considered Zach Collins and OG Anunoby at that spot.
By Eric in Madison on 06.15.17 8:36pm
I don't know what to make of Zach.
He kills it in MDSD, but he doesn’t pass at all and I’m probably more bothered than I should be by his limited playing time. He could be a great pick, though. OG’s stock seems to be dropping a bit. He might be a nice trade-down target.
By Dan Antonio on 06.15.17 8:54pm
There will be a couple of teams minimum that will regret passing on Monk! The closest player to Curry in this draft!
By Only In Fairfax on 06.15.17 7:02pm
If I ranked the players for the Wolves, I'd go: Fultz, Jackson, Isaac, Monk, Ball, Fox, DSJ, Frank the Tank, Tatum, Collins
By tyger1147 on 06.15.17 8:46pm
I think Fultz has an okay chance to be a star. I think Jackson and Isaac are going to be superstar role players.
I think Monk will be at least a solid shooter and has a chance to be a star if his handles and passing are good. I think his floor is probably lower than Ball, Fox or Tatum, but I think his ceiling is higher, too.
By tyger1147 on 06.15.17 8:54pm
I'd probably move Tatum right behind Isaac
By to_be_announced on 06.16.17 11:14am
Yeah, that's fine.
I think Tatum’s ceiling is good, but I think his average outcome is a high-volume, low-efficiency scorer. Those can have value, but they can also hurt your team from making you better. If he is great on defense, and becomes an efficient scorer, he could be Paul George or Gordon Hayward. But he called also be DeMar Rozen or Andrew Wiggins. I don’t like that kind of player. For me, I’d rather pass on Paul George than be stuck with DeMar Derozen.
By tyger1147 on 06.16.17 10:05pm
Monk is going to be an excellent scorer and player
He’s completely underrated when it comes to his athleticism.
By badpoet on 06.16.17 12:27pm