This one is fairly straightforward and there are not a lot of wrinkles.

 

Who is he?


Mailk Monk is one of three Kentucky freshmen who will likely be lottery picks in the draft. Monk is an undersized shooting guard who can, wait for this fucking breakdown, SHOOT.

 

What to like

HIS SHOT! Monk is arguably the best shooter in the draft. He’s strong both as a spot-up shooter and off the quick bounce. He has a good arc on his shot and rarely misses badly. He’s streaky, but not in a bad way. Always decent, and at times unstoppable, Monk can stretch the floor and hit from DEEP NBA range. He has a high release, which offsets his 6’4 frame. He’s can finish around the rim and indeed wow with a dunk or athletic play. He can create his own shot, to a degree, and posseses the ability to become an excellent scoring guard. He’s described as someone who can become an elite role player, which sounds like a critique, but on a Sixers team with two presumed stars in Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, that could be exactly what they need. He’s plenty quick enough to get his in the NBA.

 

What not to like

He’s kind of one-dimensional. While not just catch shoot player, like a Kyle Korver, he’s not good enough with the ball right now to be a true combo guard. He’s also undersized as a shooting guard and could struggle against longer opponents. While he can get his shot off the dribble, he worked off the pick-and-roll and in isolation very little in college, which could not only limit his scoring ability in the NBA but also his prospects to become a true combo guard. He’s athletic and quick enough to play defense in the NBA, but again his size will be an issue against some players.

 

Would he fit the Sixers?

Absofuckinglutely. With Embiid and Simmons, the Sixers would do just fine a role player shooter like Monk. He should have plenty of space to get his shot off, and he won’t draw doubles or opposing teams’ best defenders, so he won’t struggle to put up points.

 

Why would the Sixers draft him?

Again, he fills a much-needed role. Plain and simple.

 

Why wouldn’t the Sixers draft him?

Monk is probably not good enough or well-rounded enough to be the number three pick. At that spot, ideally you can get a potential star rather than an excellent role player. That may not be as important for the Sixers, who have seemingly endless lottery picks and can, at this point, draft for need, but they could still miss out on someone who projects to be much better. Monk’s teammate, De’Aaron Fox, is more athletic and has higher upside, even though he can’t shoot. Also, though Ben Simmons will play some variation of point guard, it would be helpful to have another guard who is a bit better with the ball than Monk, who is not ready to play the point at the NBA level.

If the Sixers really want Monk – who I’d be thrilled with – they can likely move back a pick or two and pick up something else for their troubles.