NBA Mock Draft 2017, Week 16: Lonzo Ball to the Lakers

What would be a more fitting match than the New York Knicks and a highlight reel prospect with a high upside, but decent bust potential? Kentucky’s Malik Monk is one of the most electrifying players in college basketball because of his ability to get hot and pick up buckets in a hurry. Monk is averaging 26.3 points per 40 minutes on a 60.7 true shooting percentage. He’s connecting on 40.9 percent of his 3-pointers while taking them at a high rate. Monk is an efficient, high volume scorer who could average 20 points per game assuming his shooting prowess keeps up in the NBA.

There are some red flags, though. Monk doesn’t get to the rim in the halfcourt and his shooting numbers are out of this world, so their sustainability has to be in question to some degree. He is also only 6-foot-3, which means that he’ll almost always be undersized in the NBA unless he develops additional point guard skills. That all melds together into a risky concoction on the offensive end.

Monk is a fine defensive talent who should be able to defend either guard position. He snags a few steals here and there, but obviously doesn’t make much of an impact on the boards or protecting the rim.

Learn more about Malik Monk at The Step Back.