We "Don't" Want the Monk: The Malik Monk Thread

[countryboi]

Monk will be fine some guys take time. i see some of same people here giving up on Monk that was ready to give up on Kemba early on too.

[fatlever]

i was hard on kemba early, but i never doubted his ability to be a valuable contributor... just never thought he'd be who he is now. 99% of people were wrong about kemba's peak. that doesn't mean we shouldn't be concerned w/ monk's development. right now he is a 1 trick pony who is very inconsistent in that 1 trick - shooting. very happy he did his 1 trick well last night.

[yosemiteben]

Also, let's not act like Kemba is the most likely outcome here. There's a reason his transformation is so insane - it's so rare that guys take that step.

I really don't feel strongly about Monk one way or the other, I can see him being truly elite and I can see him being McLemore 2.0.

[SWedd523]

So Monk just had a great game and lit up from 3. It's like fans feel shocked when a 20 year old scorer is inconsistent. When Kemba was 20 he was just starting his Junior year at UConn. But oh yeah, Monk is junk.

I will ever understand how little leeway he gets, especially relative to the other Charlotte draftees over the years.

Most notably is the "Maybe Next Year MKG".

People were writing Monk off LAST year, as a Rookie, while still giving MKG the benefit of the doubt. "No this time his shot will be fixed, I swear!"

Regardless of if Monk ever becomes a good player or not, it baffles me how fans quit on his potential almost day one.

[CatgutStitches]

The hot takes around here on him really are baffling. Yes, the 20 year old makes some questionable decisions...I'm alright with that at this point. He's also shown plenty of effort, even on defense where hes still pretty clueless, pretty damn good court vision, and freakish athleticism.

Shooters get in slumps. They also have hot streaks. I know its been awhile since weve had a real shooter, but this is kinda just how it is...roll with the punches till he figures it out. Fact is, even if hes playing bad hes fun to watch, which is the reason I watch the games to begin with. I love when Kemba, Monk, Miles and MKG are on the floor at the same time <3

[yosemiteben]

The MKG comparison would make sense if Monk was an all around elite weapon on O and just struggled on D. A better comparison would be if MKG was only solid on D once every three games his first two years.

And I haven't really hated on Monk, but those are not comparable situations.

[MasterIchiro]

It's hypocritical to be so dismissive of Monk because while MKG had elite defense, he had very low potential on offense. And every year he confirmed the broken shot. Monk has more than just range. He can pass well and create for others. He can still learn to play team defense. I think the idea was that you can always improve a shot but you can't improve defense. It's a myth. You can improve defense, especially coaching a player how to play team defense. Monk is also not just a shooter. He's so quick. He can get free and score from just about anywhere. Some say Booker is a one way player. Booker shot through his early struggles as a teen. I think Monk matched his rookie % from 3.

[yosemiteben]

MKG was never not above average on D. He didn't go several games at a time where he hurt us on D.

You can't say the same for Monk's offense.

[MasterIchiro]

The payoff with consistency on offense is much higher. And no 20 year old should be expected to be consistent on offense, not when they barely played until this year. The payoff is Devin Booker. A defensive specialist with a broken shot never had that payoff, yet he was supported for 5-6 years. Monk deserves more patience, considering his payoff upside. Again, Booker is a one-way player. Lots of teams would kill to have him yet could go without MKG.

[MasterIchiro]

It's ignorant or disengenuous to suggest that both ends of the ball are equal in this league. Just look at scoring. Try trading an all-defense prospect for an all-offense one. A GM would laugh your ass off the phone.

[yosemiteben]

What patience does Monk not get? The only trade proposals I've seen for him have involved Beal. No one is saying we should dump him or even take him out of the rotation, but the reality is MKG played a productive role from day 1 and it doesn't make sense to use support for him as some sort of validation for the degree of support Monk should have.

At his worst, MKG still merited being in our rotation. At Monk's worst, he's pretty much unplayable.

[Vanderbilt_Grad]

Ignoring the one game where he got a DNP, monk has only failed to score in one game, against Boston. In 8 games he has scored 10 or fewer points, in those he averaged 2.25 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 0.6 steals.

His per minute rates for both assists and steals are roughly the same in those games as they are in games where he scored more ... but his rebounding is actually better in his low scoring games. It's a small sample size, but a possible indication that he is trying to do other stuff on nights where the shot isn't falling.

I'm not a huge fan of Monk's defensive effort, but I don't see this falling to the level of 'he shouldn't be on the court' if his shot isn't falling.'

[316Hornets]

I like Monk, I really do. He is a fascinating player to watch at times. Problem is, he just isn't ready to contribute positively on a nightly basis. We've been spinning our wheels for so long, that watching us baby Monk makes me sick. He either needs to start drilling shots consistently or we should get someone who can, *cough* Jamal Crawford *cough*.

[Liver_Pooty]

We babied MKG and his overrated defense for years. Im sure we will be okay babying Monk for a bit.

[Eoghan]

There's no way in hell I'm dumping Monk for an 80 year old Jamal Crawford. This team is nowhere near "one piece away" from going deep in the postseason.

Monk's been a typical rookie but he hasn't been Gary Neal or Ben Gordon bad. Got to at least give him enough consistent minutes to get a feel for the speed of the game.

[316Hornets]

My point is Monk has value long term. We have to think immediate short term to ensure Kemba stays and the team is in a good light this year. We could swing a trade for someone like Crawford and pick up another immediate impact player as well.

[CatgutStitches]

My point is Monk has value long term. We have to think immediate short term to ensure Kemba stays and the team is in a good light this year. We could swing a trade for someone like Crawford and pick up another immediate impact player as well.

You also have to look at the big picture though. Sure, a guy like Crawford may be more valuable than Monk right now, but if Kemba resigns it will be for 5 years....In 5 years Crawford will be playing for the Shady Pines retirement village and Monk will be entering his prime.

I don't have a problem with people criticizing Monk for his play, but Ive seen people talk about dumping him for nothing or calling him another Ben Gordon or Gary Neal just cuz dude was in a shooting slump. He brings a lot to the table for the future prospects of our team, IMO, and you only dump him if youre getting a real piece back (like a Beal). Just have a little patience for a 20 year old who doesn't even have to play a big role for us right now if he isn't ready...I honestly kinda like how Borrego is handling him so far.

If 2-3 years from now he hasn't shown considerable growth in his game then do what you have to do. At that point he will be Donavon Mitchell's age and we can see what we have. I need to see him get more aware, stronger, tighten up his handle and get a little more consistent....which tends to be exactly what super young players always need to improve at. I think having Kemba and Parker in the same locker room will be very good for his development personally.

[JMAC3]

Monk has a long way to go to be a complete basketball player, but he isn’t trash.

He is going to have to learn to play off his shot, and in order for that teams have to respect your jumper. I just don’t think he is there yet, with his shot so the rest of his game looks below average.

Klay Thompson plays completely off his jumper, teams have to be so tight on him and close out so hard it opens the rest up. Monk will be the same, he is still so young and hasn’t even played a full season at this point.

I would only trade him for a legit scorer like a Beal. Talking about trading him for Crawford, who wasn’t signed for a month into the season is laughable.




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[316Hornets]

Just want to confirm I didn't say trade Monk for Crawford. I'm saying Crawford could provide us the same value and maybe we get Warren as well?

[GoBobs]

Monk has three nba level skills right now. They are 3pt shooting, dunking, and free throw shooting.

Ball handling and passing are decent but don't stand out.

Whether his ceiling is sixth man type scorer, sold starter, or star depends on his ability to get better on defense.

Sometimes you have to play a guy who isn't ready in order to develop him. I have no doubt that monk will be a better 3pt shooter then anyone else on this team before his career is over.