Charlotte Hornets: How good can Malik Monk really be?

The Ceiling Career Outcome: Sky’s the Limit

Let’s get two things straight before we get all rosy about Malik’s future. I have heard two absurd comparisons for Monk since he left Kentucky: Ray Allen and Allen Iverson. He will never have the outside shooting or consistency of Ray Allen, and Allen Iverson’s handle makes Malik Monk look like a 7th grader trying to dribble against grown men.

Back to the fun stuff….

One thing people have already forgotten: Malik Monk is 20-years-old. He’s younger than Mikal Bridges, Jerome Robinson, Donte DiVincenzo, and plenty of other 2017 and 2018 rookies. He’s got time to get really good.

Some excuses for him:

-He got hurt during summer league, so he was always playing catch-up in 2017-18.

-His rookie season will be by far the worst of his career. Coach Clifford’s system was a terrible fit for Monk, relying on defense and half-court offense where Monk is a natural fit in a more up-tempo system (which Borrego will bring more of to this team in the coming seasons).

-Charlotte (or Coach Clifford’s staff) wanted to use Malik as a point guard, but it takes time to play the point in the NBA. Monk never got to truly play that position at Kentucky and has never run pick & roll consistently. To say he was tossed into the deep end of the pool in 2017-18 would be an understatement.

-He rarely played with Kemba last year who is the only player I’d consider a “facilitator” on the roster. Even Donovan Mitchell had the benefit of running alongside Ricky Rubio and several shooters his rookie year. No such luck for Monk, stranded on Frank Kaminsky island. In 2017-18, the Hornets basically asked Monk to create the entire offense himself rather than trying to succeed within it. Kemba can do that. 19-year-olds cannot.

So what could Monk eventually become?

You’ll need to sit down for this: a less dominant Skywalker with a three-point shot. Ok, you’re saying to yourself, “No way Malik Monk is the next David Thompson.” Hear me out.

They have similar physical make-ups. Slow down: I said “similar.” I know Thompson was an alien, but Monk is at least an athletic “freak” by any definition. Where Thompson was a powerful athlete, Monk is an agile one. Monk’s brand of physicality better lends itself to 2018’s version of the NBA. (Do I sound crazy yet?)

Watch this highlight tape and tell me that Monk doesn’t at least have shades of Thompson in him:

Thompson was never a gifted shooter. He never needed to be one since he could basically rise up to dunk from anywhere inside half court. But he was able to take over games at only 6’4” and 195lbs. Monk is 6’3” and 200lbs. Of course, Malik is playing in an NBA that is significantly more athletic than the one Thompson had to deal with, but I think the physical comparison still holds water.

Next: Willy Hernangomez showed out in summer league

Even if we’re being generous, Monk will never have Thompson’s ability to simply destroy opponents, but maybe that’s okay. If he develops into 85% of the athlete Thompson was (which he isn’t too far from) and has the 40%+ three-point percentage he had in a notoriously shooter-unfriendly college system at the University of Kentucky, what’s stopping Monk from being one of the top-5 to top-10 scorers in the league? Well, a bunch of stuff. But a fan can dream, right?