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

[euphorbus]

Monk is now listed as "questionable" for tonight. I doubt he plays, with five games left. The next two are against the Nuggets and the Clippers, so if he can go, this would be the time.

[Braggins]

If theres any doubt at all he should rest.

[Snidely FC]

Malik made Zach Lowe's 2021 Luke Walton All-Stars (journeymen and role players thriving in unexpected ways)

Malik Monk, Charlotte Hornets
When the NBA suspended Monk last February for violating its anti-drug policy, he called his older brother, Marcus, in distress. "I really messed up," Monk told his brother, both recall. "I let you down. I let Mom down."

"He was concerned for his career," Marcus Monk says.

Monk had finally broken into the Hornets' rotation before the suspension, and was in the middle of a career-best stretch: 15-plus points in seven of eight games. Early in that streak, James Borrego, Charlotte's coach, met privately with Monk. "We've had so many meetings, Malik and I," Borrego says, laughing. "Could I trust him to make the right play? Malik has not always agreed with me, and I don't expect him to."

Borrego's message was simple: I'm letting you play through mistakes. "Don't look to the sideline," Borrego told him.

Two weeks after Monk's suspension, the pandemic paused the NBA. Monk was in Charlotte, separated from teammates and family.

"We worried about him going through it alone," Borrego says.

Monk can't discuss the NBA's mandated drug suspension program -- only that it involved "a whole bunch of Zooms," he says.

The NBA lifted the suspension before the Hornets convened for their informal bubble in late September. Several team personnel tested positive for the coronavirus. The tests ended up false positives, but it unnerved players and staff. Some players opted out of the camp. Monk stayed. He worked more diligently than before.

"I was going to do everything I could to get back," Monk says.

"That he chose to stay spoke volumes," Borrego says.

He changed his off-court habits. "I had to grow up," Monk says. "I came into the NBA at 19, and I was living like a 19-year-old."

Monk tried to let go of any tension about his role. "Guys who have success in college think the NBA is going to go a certain way," Marcus Monk says. "You think you're invincible. Malik fell victim to that. I'm proud of how he matured."

Monk contracted the coronavirus right before training camp. His grandmother contracted the virus around the same time, and died about a week later. "I recovered in seven days, she passed in seven days," Monk says.

Monk appeared in only four games over the season's first month. It took until the end of January for Monk to feel like he had his normal wind, he says. Borrego slid him back in the rotation, and Monk did not fall out again until suffering an ankle injury last month. He surged for several 20-plus-point games.

Monk is shooting 41.5% on 3s after hitting just 32% over his first three seasons. The simplest path to playing time was living up to his reputation as a shooter. He is a skilled playmaker.

Monk will never be an elite defender, but he's engaged. Coaches say he is among the best on the team at understanding schemes and personnel.

Monk can hit restricted free agency this summer. The league is watching.

[BigSlam]

Looking forward to posters still saying it’s Clifford’s and JB’s fault that Monk “hasn’t been given a chance” - even though the words of his brother and even out of his own mouth contradict that.

[Rays Pompadour]

This is the kind of reporting one might expect from the local rags. We forget, sometimes, that professional athletes are people. It's good to be reminded of that.

Monk will be a tougher keep than Graham due to Monk's cap hold and expected scarcity in the market for RFA's with upside. A poison pill offer might get it done. But I'm not expecting anything spectacular. Like Lowe said, the league is watching. They've seen Monk's drug struggles and seen him underproduce to his potential. Best bet is that Monk and the Hornets come to a market-level deal that is shorter in length (3-yr) with a PO for a fourth.

Worst case, Monk takes the QO and becomes a UFA the Hornets have to compete for. I actually like the prospect of a hungry Monk in a contract year.

[yosemiteben]

This is the kind of reporting one might expect from the local rags.

This was exactly my first thought...how TF is Lowe getting these quotes and not Bonnell? This is just embarrassing for any Hornets beat writer.

[euphorbus]

With Monk the fourth man off the bench, the handwriting is on the wall: Mr. Kupchak is going to let him walk and resign Devonté Graham. Graham's contract will be a lot cheaper.

[predators]

I'm curious how much value he actually has around the league. He's shooting .400 from 3, but it seems real all or nothing.

[Bassman]

With Monk the fourth man off the bench, the handwriting is on the wall: Mr. Kupchak is going to let him walk and resign Devonté Graham. Graham's contract will be a lot cheaper.

I don’t doubt this, but Graham is a one trick pony. I liked him more when he wasn’t asked to do too much... abuse when he’s needed he struggles more often than not. An undersized three point chucker shouldn’t get big money but the brass all like him. Heck, I like him, but he isn’t growing his game.

[Roll Tide 09]

Watch the Warriors or Lakers pick up Monk for less than 5 Million. LOL! Ideally, the Mavericks would sign him to pair with Doncic.

[Diop]

I’d happily sign monk for 5 million, if we could do that quickly but I think he will have to spend time seeing how much he can get paid

[Rich4114]

There are several games this season that we absolutely do not win without Monk. Sacramento and two Miami games come to mind. I really don’t understand how JB keeps knocking him down the pecking order and nothing is more infuriating when Caleb Martin moved ahead of him in the rotation. I get Caleb plays hard and has better defense, but I feel like JB undervalues what Monk brings from a playmaking standpoint considering how badly we need that when LaMelo is off the court. I hope we resign bin and JB just commits. But I’m thinking they’ll let him walk and then he’ll be a much better player somewhere else. This is still a Cho pick too which doesn’t help.

[SWedd523]

There are several games this season that we absolutely do not win without Monk. Sacramento and two Miami games come to mind. I really don’t understand how JB keeps knocking him down the pecking order and nothing is more infuriating when Caleb Martin moved ahead of him in the rotation. I get Caleb plays hard and has better defense, but I feel like JB undervalues what Monk brings from a playmaking standpoint considering how badly we need that when LaMelo is off the court. I hope we resign bin and JB just commits. But I’m thinking they’ll let him walk and then he’ll be a much better player somewhere else. This is still a Cho pick too which doesn’t help.

I find it hard to believe that folks can still have this take, especially after the multiple articles (including the most recent one) that have come out

[euphorbus]

I’d happily sign Monk for 5 million, if we could do that quickly but I think he will have to spend time seeing how much he can get paid.

A good comparison is Malik Beasley of the Timberwolves. He signed a $60 million, four-year contract, for which he was paid $13.4 million this year. Here are their stats for the current season, per 36 minutes. (Not precise but necessary given that Monk comes off the bench.)

https://www.nba.com/stats/vs/#!/?PlayerID=1628370&VsPlayerID=1627736&Season=2020-21&SeasonType=Regular%20Season&PerMode=Per36

Sadly, it may be true that Monk plays as well as Malik Beasley only 5% of the time, but the NBA statistics tell quite a story.

#MONK5%

[Rich4114]

There are several games this season that we absolutely do not win without Monk. Sacramento and two Miami games come to mind. I really don’t understand how JB keeps knocking him down the pecking order and nothing is more infuriating when Caleb Martin moved ahead of him in the rotation. I get Caleb plays hard and has better defense, but I feel like JB undervalues what Monk brings from a playmaking standpoint considering how badly we need that when LaMelo is off the court. I hope we resign bin and JB just commits. But I’m thinking they’ll let him walk and then he’ll be a much better player somewhere else. This is still a Cho pick too which doesn’t help.

I find it hard to believe that folks can still have this take, especially after the multiple articles (including the most recent one) that have come out

You find it hard to believe that people think JB should probably play Monk over Caleb Martin?

[SWedd523]

When Monk didn't play before a lot of people freaked out about it

Then the article came out stating he wasn't in a good place to get meaningful time. Health, personal reasons, etc.

When he finally was in a place to play, JB inserted him into the lineup and he got plenty of floor time.

He has since been injured and is working his way back again, and yet people are freaking out, once again, because he isn't getting more time.

We've already seen once that there is more going on behind closed doors than we are privy to, especially in regards to Monk.

Have they not earned at least some benefit of the doubt? Or are we going to continue to assume the worst regardless of past knowledge?

[Rich4114]

When Monk didn't play before a lot of people freaked out about it

Then the article came out stating he wasn't in a good place to get meaningful time. Health, personal reasons, etc.

When he finally was in a place to play, JB inserted him into the lineup and he got plenty of floor time.

He has since been injured and is working his way back again, and yet people are freaking out, once again, because he isn't getting more time.

We've already seen once that there is more going on behind closed doors than we are privy to, especially in regards to Monk.

Have they not earned at least some benefit of the doubt? Or are we going to continue to assume the worst regardless of past knowledge?

Is he worse off than LaMelo in regards to his injury? You may certainly be right, but then why are we playing Caleb with a dislocated thumb that’s obviously bothering him and why is Monk in there during garbage time? The other thing is when we are struggling to score, we need our playmakers and scorers out there. Monk is one of them. So idk, just too used to seeing this.

[Chapelchilla]

If we can keep him for 7 million a year or less, fine. Otherwise, he is quite replaceable and does not bring much besides streaky 3 pt shooting, if he is hot he can get you 20pts but that only happens like 1/4 of the time. He still could become a decent 6th man but that is pretty much his top end.

[SWedd523]

When Monk didn't play before a lot of people freaked out about it

Then the article came out stating he wasn't in a good place to get meaningful time. Health, personal reasons, etc.

When he finally was in a place to play, JB inserted him into the lineup and he got plenty of floor time.

He has since been injured and is working his way back again, and yet people are freaking out, once again, because he isn't getting more time.

We've already seen once that there is more going on behind closed doors than we are privy to, especially in regards to Monk.

Have they not earned at least some benefit of the doubt? Or are we going to continue to assume the worst regardless of past knowledge?

Is he worse off than LaMelo in regards to his injury?

I don't know bro, that's what I'm saying.

Last time people assumed the worst and the reality was that Monk had a ton of stuff going on behind the scenes.

You may certainly be right, but then why are we playing Caleb with a dislocated thumb that’s obviously bothering him and why is Monk in there during garbage time? The other thing is when we are struggling to score, we need our playmakers and scorers out there. Monk is one of them. So idk, just too used to seeing this.

Very valid points, and I really don't have the answer to that. This FO has been infuriatingly tight lipped on personnel matters across the board but it seems like they always have a "relatively" valid reason for it when the story eventually comes out

[Braggins]

does not bring much besides streaky 3 pt shooting

His 3pt% hasn't dropped below 41% at any point this season since he was inserted into the rotation. He had a few games early in the season where he only played garbage time minutes, but in the other 37 games hes shot 40% or better from 3pt 22 times and only shot worse than 33% 9 times. For a reference point, Rozier has shot worse than 33% from 3pt in 21/67(31%) games, which is a higher percentage of games than Monk even if you count Monk's garbage time only games.