Charlotte Hornets: NBA scout compares Malik Monk to Lou Williams, Says rookie will be “instant offense”
Anonymous NBA scouts previewed the Charlotte Hornets and gave their insight on individual players including high praise for Malik Monk.
Sports Illustrated had anonymous NBA scouts preview the entire Southeast Division. When they came around to the Charlotte Hornets, they gave scouting reports for almost every player including Dwight Howard, Kemba Walker, Nicolas Batum, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Marvin Williams, Cody Zeller, Frank Kaminsky and Malik Monk.
Focusing on the Hornets’ rookie, the scout said that “There’s very little chance Malik Monk is going to play point guard in the NBA. He always reminds me of Lou Williams. He’s just a natural, fluid, athletic, under-sized scoring two guard. He’ll be instant offense.” Head Coach Steve Clifford has indicated that the first round pick may play some point guard this season but the scout doesn’t see that as the best role for Monk.
As for the comparison to Williams, it’s a fair one considering that both are undersized guards who are primarily offensive minded. Although Malik is a bit taller and possesses more athleticism, they are similar players in their ability to shoot the ball and score off of the bench. Most predict that the former Kentucky Wildcat to be “instant offense” for Charlotte and that’s probably what the team was expecting of Monk when they drafted him.
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When talking about Dwight Howard, the scout called him a conundrum saying that the eight-time all-star is a “walking double-double” and he can’t understand why Howard isn’t “one of the best centers in basketball” or a “better version of Hassan Whiteside?” To me, Dwight has all of the physical tools necessary to be a dominant player but injuries and playing in systems that aren’t tailored for him have led to his recent decline.
Moving onto the Hornets’ wing duo of Micheal Kidd-Gilchrist and Nicolas Batum, the scout had some harsh criticism saying that “on the wing isn’t good enough to be an upper-level team in the conference.” Considering MKG’s offensive struggles, it has been a tough at times for Steve Clifford to pair the two.
The scout pointed out the Hornets’ frontcourt depth and that “It’s tough to figure out how to make all those guys fit” when talking about Cody Zeller, Marvin Williams, Dwight Howard and Frank Kaminsky.
Here are some notes from what the scout had to say about Charlotte:
- Kemba has a chip on his shoulder but is not a high-maintenance player at all.
- Nic Batum is versatile with a great passing ability but leaves something to be desired on the defensive end.
- Cody Zeller could play a little bit alongside Howard; he can face up and shoot.
Next: How Charlotte will move on without Nic Batum
The most intriguing part about what the scout said was the insight regarding Malik Monk. It will be interesting to see if the rookie does play at the point guard spot this year and if he does, how he will do as the primary ball handler. The “instant offense” line is encouraging as that’s what the Charlotte Hornets need the most.