2017 NBA Mock Draft, Week 25: Lakers at No. 1, Knicks at No. 2
By Chris Stone
Malik Monk
SG, Kentucky
Draft status: In with an agent
In terms of selection spot, this is one of the worst outcomes for the Philadelphia 76ers, but they still walk away with a player who fits their needs well. Kentucky’s Malik Monk would give Philadelphia an elite shooting prospect in the backcourt.
Monk made 39.7 percent of his 3-pointers this season en route to scoring 24.8 points per 40 minutes. He shot well at the foul line and made 3.4 triples per 40 minutes, two statistics that bode well for his jump shot translating. Monk is comfortable running off of screens, can pull up off the dribble and is a must find for opposing defenses in transition. His 3-point shooting can help open up the floor for both Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid.
Where Monk would ultimately fix on the 76ers’ roster is an interesting question. At 6-foot-3, he’s undersized for a shooting guard, but if Simmons is going to handle the ball, slotting Monk in as the de facto point guard could be an option. That would limit some of his size concerns. At worst, though, Monk can provide enough offensive value that what he’s giving up on the defensive end won’t matter as much.