Scouting Malik Monk’s potential fit with the Miami Heat

Weaknesses

Throughout the year, Monk has peaked as high as sixth on Draft Express’ 2017 mock-ups. The reason for his recent plummet to ninth, aside from a rough shooting stretch from three, is his defense. What’s alarming is that it’s not just focus issues, which would be normal for an 18-year-old kid. It’s his limited size and length (6-foot-3, 6-foot-4 wingspan) that really hurt him.

Despite getting a ton of playing time (over 31 minutes per contest), he only averages 1.2 steals. His lack of length doesn’t allow him to get into passing lanes, and when a player shoots over him, they probably don’t notice his contest. For such an explosive offensive weapon, it doesn’t translate when he has to move his feet on defense.

What’s even worse is when he has to switch onto bigger players. Here, observe what happens when he tries to cover Josh Jackson on the block:

Jackson rises above him like he’s not even there and gets a wide-open look at the rim. Whoever drafts Monk may be forced to hide him on spot-up shooters or non-offensive threats, which is what his coach, John Calipari, does very often.

An even bigger red flag in Monk’s game is that he’s a player stuck between positions. A shooting guard in a point guard’s body. He struggles as a creator, and has not shown that he can run a team in college, let alone the next level.

Although Monk is more than just a streak shooter, ultimately, that’s what some NBA execs will see him as. Is he the next JR Smith? He plays with an elite point guard at Kentucky. What would happen if he was forced to be a team’s primary ball-handler? Those are questions scouts will have to answer come draft time.