Fansided

Rookie Ladder: Lottery picks off to disappointing starts

By Brandon Jefferson

PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 04: Markelle Fultz #20 of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on against the Memphis Grizzlies in the preseason game at the Wells Fargo Center on October 4, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 04: Markelle Fultz #20 of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on against the Memphis Grizzlies in the preseason game at the Wells Fargo Center on October 4, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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MEMPHIS, TN – OCTOBER 30: Malik Monk
MEMPHIS, TN – OCTOBER 30: Malik Monk /

5. Malik Monk — Charlotte Hornets (No. 11 pick)

Malik Monk kicked off November with his best performance of the season. He splashed in a season-high 25 points —including 18 in the fourth quarter— while hitting five of his eight 3-point attempts. Monk showed his ability to get hot at a moment’s notice during his lone season with Kentucky last year. However, outside of his big game against the Milwaukee Bucks, Monk has been in an extended shooting slump to begin his rookie year.

As of Thursday, Monk has connected on 33.3 percent of his 3-pointers, but if you remove the game against Milwaukee and his “revenge” game against the New York Knicks, that total drops down to an abysmal 26.6 percent.

This slump isn’t likely to last for long, and to Monk’s credit it hasn’t made him gun shy in the slightest. The rookie has shot more 3-pointers than 3-pointers in four of his first 10 games in the NBA.

Monk just barely missed being a 40 percent 3-point shooter at Kentucky (39.7 percent on 6.9 attempts per game as a freshman), but so far the one skill that scouts agreed was his NBA-level talent hasn’t translated to the big leagues yet. With Nic Batum sidelined and Michael Carter-Williams working his way back into shape, playing time will remain there for Monk. The best case scenario is that he simply shoots himself out of it.

A poor October has really put Monk behind the eight ball to begin his NBA career. Three games into November, the sweet shooting combo guard is looking more like himself. However, his poor shooting has only highlighted that he is a one-trick pony at this point in his career. Even if he finds his stroke, he will need to continue to work on developing his overall game if he wants to solidify himself in Charlotte as more than just a shooter.

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