2017 NBA Mock Draft, Week 23: The NBA Playoffs are upon us
By Chris Stone
Malik Monk
SG, Kentucky
Draft status: In with an agent
With the Los Angeles Lakers’ pick potentially falling in their lap, the Philadelphia 76ers will obviously be anxiously awaiting lottery night, but their own pick could turn into something special, too. If they land in their projected position, they’ll have a shot to snag Kentucky guard Malik Monk. The 6-foot-3 freshman probably isn’t this high on most team’s boards, but he fits exactly what Philadelphia needs and probably should be a top five prospect on their board.
Given that Ben Simmons figures to be the team’s primary initiator, Monk could slot in at the traditional point guard spot without as many ball-handling responsibilities. It’s a move that would mitigate the drawbacks to his size and accentuate his offensive firepower. Monk is a flamethrower when he’s on. He averaged 24.8 points per 40 minutes for Kentucky this season on a 58.6 true shooting percentage while knocking down 39.7 percent of his 3-pointers. The 19-year old’s floor spacing would be incredibly welcome on a Sixers’ roster that could drastically use it.
Defensively, Monk can defend the point of attack as he has the length and athleticism to do so, but his size will certainly limit his ability to switch.