5 Players the Charlotte Hornets Gave up on too soon
By Tyler Hurst
1. Malik Monk
Malik Monk is currently balling out in the playoffs as a member of the Sacramento Kings, but not too long ago, he was a key (however frustrating) piece for the rebuilding Charlotte Hornets.
The Kentucky product was selected No. 11 overall by Charlotte in the 2017 NBA draft. Monk’s play was mired with inconsistency during his four seasons donning the teal and white; however, he did show flashes of the incredible offensive asset he was capable of being.
His microwave scoring ability led to many ridiculous games where he would go for as many as thirty on any given night. Unfortunately, he also had a habit of pulling a disappearing act.
The Hornets allowed Monk to walk in free agency in 2021, and at the time, it didn’t seem like the worst move. While he had the noted issues with consistency, he also struggled mightily with availability.
Even in his fourth year where he seemed to truly be making the leap, he was still only able to play 42 games. He also missed time because of a violation of the NBA’s anti-doping policy and lingering ankle issues that rightfully caused concerns.
While there is no guarantee that Monk would’ve become the player that he is now had he stayed in Charlotte, the front office is surely kicking themselves now. Hindsight is 20/20, but Hornets fans can only dream of the monster games Monk could be having running alongside LaMelo Ball.
