Selecting Malik Monk is the Sixers‘ best option at No. 3, Bob Ford of the Philadelphia Inquirer contends. While taking Monk so high may be considered a reach, Ford doesn’t see it that way. He argues that front office should disregard expert rankings and pick the player who would fit in best with the team.
Only five teams were worse than the Sixers from long-range last season, as I mentioned in the franchise’s offseason preview. The Sixers’ greatness need may be shooting and Monk, who Jonathan Givony of Draft Express ranks as the eighth best prospect in the draft, made 39.7% of his attempts from behind the arc during his lone season in Kentucky.
Here’s more on the upcoming draft:
- Wolves coach Tom Thibodeau said other teams have been trying to acquire the No. 7 overall pick, ESPN’s Nick Friedell tweets. Thibs added that he believes there will be high demand for many picks in the draft.
- Jordan Bell had an impressive workout with the Sixers, according to Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer. “For a Dennis Rodman-like player who has the ability to play across a few positions, mainly defensively, we sat with him, had a great interview as we’ve learned more about him,” Sixers executive Brandon Williams said. If Bell falls in the draft, Philadelphia could be a team to watch out for since it has four selections in the second round.
- The Knicks worked out Ike Iroegbu and Trevor Thompson, Marc Berman of the New York Post passes along (Twitter link).
- Elie Okobo worked out for the Sixers today, Jessica Camerato of Comcast Sports relays (Twitter link). Okobo previously worked out for the Jazz and he plans to meet with the Nets and Hawks.
If Jackson is available at 3, he is the best guy on the board, but he is really similar to Simmons, and until he develops a jumpshot, he is a better option as a 4. I consider Tatum as a 4/3, and they already have multiple players at the 4, including Saric. They need help at the guard and wing spots. Fox has shooting issues, which could be an issue on that particular team. Monk probably does make the most sense for them, but then I think they should attempt to move down and take him. Otherwise, take the best guy available in my opinion, and figure out need later
That didn’t work out for them with all the centers they accumulated. They just let Noel walk because they didn’t want to pay him and Okafor has turned out to be a bust. They need to draft a shooter.
Okafor wasn’t the best guy available. I thought he’d fall or the knicks would take him. They also waited too long to sort things out, which turned into what we saw. It’s trade down for Monk, take Jackson, or take Fox, in my opinion
if the sixers can get the kings to trade up to 3 and get monk they have a great draft night. To take him 3rd though is a little risky imo
Kings ain’t taking monk they want fox
Which is why they should offer a swap and a later future first or second.
Always always always take the best player available. Do not draft for need.
That’s a no-brainer proved correct for years.
You sign free agents and make trades for need. You draft the best player of ailable.
They already tried that and failed. They took 3 centers because they were the “best players available” and only 1 panned out.
Is anyone not watching the Warriors cause as proven you need SCORING to win, Simmons is not a scorer and Embiid is a big who can average 26-27 in his prime depending on his health but Monk can be a 20 point scorer on the Sixers.
Is anyone not watching GS and cleveland? GS is elite defensively. Cavs are trash other than Lebron. Not that scoring doesnt matter. It obviously does. Philly does need spacing, but you can figure stuff like that out when you have a core in place
Embiid makes the Sixers elite defensively though. So he goes so goes the process.
Over-drafting for ‘need’ gets you fired. What is he Chip Kelly – guy wanted to draft 3rd and 4th round talent in the 1st – Same thing that Ford is suggesting. Monk is a mid to late lottery pick. Not Top 3. Take the best player available, it’s not a Center this year.
Monk is somewhere between 6 and 9. Not late lottery, but point remains that it’s a reach at 3 with the all around talent there is. If he improves his ball handling, and can be more of a PG, his value rises a lot, b/c he is a really good athlete, which nobody talks about. He probably fits them bset though, so if you can add an asset or 2 in a trade to move slightly down, that would work
if they trade back to 5 & 10, I still can’t see taking him at 5 over Isaac. Yes, he is athletic, that shows up when he’s flying through the air on dunks. Doesn’t he doesn’t have a great handle against anyone that can guard and not a great passer. So now you’re talking about a project at PG. Yes he can shoot, but dribble drive is wanting. So you have a very limited PG to start. Can he develop the skills? Sure, but no one has accused him of having a high basketball IQ. Has a little bit of JR Smith in him.
If he goes to the Magic or Wolves he’s a bench player. I can see him going to the Knicks, but the it’s going to the Kings/Philly in a trade at 10. For him to fall out of the top 10 someone has to be in love with Zach Collins.
Honestly, I’ve said for a long time that Isaac wowed me the most in college. He’s my favorite in the draft. Is he a 4 or can he play the 3 though? He needs to improve his strength and his ball handling, ans be a little more aggressive offensively. If he does that, dude reminds me a lot of KD on both ends
I want Isaac for the Sixers. He is the best shooter overall out of Jackson and Tatum. He has guard skills with a 7’1 or 7’2 wingspan. That is KD type of skillet. He’s not as good of a shooter as KD obviously. But he can handle and create his own shot still has to work on it more but it’s there. Right now as a prospect he is a stronger Ingram. It’d be like drafting both Simmons and Ingram last year. And if they have the 10th I really think Monk has a chance of sliding there. Otherwise I would take Kenard or Mitchell. It’s a reach for both by about 2 or 4 picks but they slide right into the SG spot. You would play
1 – Bayless
2 – Monk/Kenard/Mitchell
3 – Isaac
4 – Simmons LBJ point forward
5 – Emiid
A bench with McConnell Saric Covington Henderson TLC and Okafor is better than any second unit in the East.
I’d agree with that, but would probably go Mitchell and then Justin Jackson over Kennard in that scenario. That lineup would allow Isaac and Simmons to see time at the 4, and maybe 1 can even plat some small ball 5
philly should take the best player regardless of position…if i were the gm that player would be Tatum. reminds me of a more coachable Melo. team him with Simmons at the 3 and 4 with Embid at the 5….Saric off the bench…sign Jonathan Simmons and ian clark. Trust the process.