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Charlotte Hornets: Will next season be a breakout year for Malik Monk?

By Noah Elmore

NEW ORLEANS, LA - MARCH 13: Malik Monk #1 of the Charlotte Hornets dribbles past Ian Clark #2 of the New Orleans Pelicans during the second half of a NBA game at the Smoothie King Center on March 13, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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 Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - MARCH 13: Malik Monk #1 of the Charlotte Hornets dribbles past Ian Clark #2 of the New Orleans Pelicans during the second half of a NBA game at the Smoothie King Center on March 13, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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 Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /
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Charlotte Hornets’ rookie Malik Monk‘s first season in the NBA hasn’t fared as well as it could’ve. Will he fare better during his sophomore year?

Rookie Malik Monk hasn’t lived up to lofty expectations so far this season. Averaging only 5.7 points and 1.2 assists per game for the Charlotte Hornets, the Kentucky product has failed to crack the rotation consistently. Monk only shoots 33% from the field and averages negative win shares. While disappointing on the whole, his rookie season has not been without its bright spots.

Monk has shown flashes through the season, most notably with his wild fourth quarter against the Bucks early in the year. Three games later, he exploded again for 21 points against the Knicks, showcasing his complete offensive game. Since then, he’s demonstrated a knack for passing the ball, as well as proving he can jump passing lanes. Unfortunately, those flashes have not been nearly consistent enough.

He struggles with that consistency for a few reasons though. Next season could be a big breakthrough for Monk.

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Missed off-season

One of the major reasons for Monk’s struggles is his injury in the off-season. The combo guard sprained his ankle almost immediately after he was drafted and missed both the team’s summer training camp and Summer League games in Orlando. It’s tough for any player to miss that much developmental time, let alone a rookie.

With a full off-season to work on his game, Monk should hopefully be able to train out some of those kinks and become a more well-rounded player.

His age

Malik Monk draws frequent comparisons to Donovan Mitchell and it’ll likely be that way for their entire careers. Charlotte was reportedly locked in on Mitchell until Monk fell to them on draft night. Mitchell even believed he’d be spending his rookie season in Charlotte after an impressive workout for the Hornets.

Consider that the two are both 6’3″ and play both guard positions, it’s easy to see why many think Charlotte should’ve gone with Mitchell.

However, Mitchell is a full year older than Monk, and going on 22 soon. Monk just turned 20 and has plenty of time to develop his game.

Mitchell only averaged 7.4 points per game at Louisville when he was 19. With another year under his belt next season, he just might surprise you.

Playing time

Steve Clifford’s rotations are tough to swallow at times. This season was particularly brutal though, as we saw historically awful shooter Michael Carter-Williams see playing time over Malik Monk, a raw-but-promising rookie who needed time to develop.

More disappointing than his relegation to the bench though (Monk has 18 DNPs on the season), is Monk’s extremely inconsistent minutes. While he averages 12 minutes per game, Monk’s played 24 games in the 0-9 minute range, 23 games in the 10-19 minute range, and 12 games in the 20-29 minute range.

Not playing is tough. Not knowing your role might be tougher. Especially for a rhythm player like Malik Monk, the lack of a defined role can be incredibly detrimental to the developmental process. If Clifford can give Monk solid, consistent minutes next year, it’s possible he could have a killer second season. Since MCW is an expiring contract, it’s likely he becomes the true backup point guard, slotted for about 15 minutes a game.

All in all, it’s been hard to call Monk’s rookie year a success. He’s struggled to efficiently put the ball in the basket, and he hasn’t seen the court a ton. When compared to the player taken immediately after him, the situation doesn’t get much better. But, it’s premature to count Monk out.

Next: Treveon Graham is the Hornets best-kept secret

Next year, Monk will not only be a year older, but he will have a full healthy off-season to grow, something he didn’t have this year. If he can garner some regular minutes, it wouldn’t be shocking to see Malik Monk take off and have a great sophomore campaign.

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