The Knicks were under Phil Jackson‘s reign during this summer’s draft and the team selected Frank Ntilikina with the No. 8 overall pick. Jackson has since been ousted, though the current front office is confident in the team’s first round selection, as Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News relays.
“I talked to our scouts a lot about Frank before the draft. I went over and watched Frank play prior to the draft, met with Frank’s coaches and learned a lot about who he is as a player and who he is as a person,” said Steve Mills, who has been with the organization since 2013, but has been recently promoted to Team President. “So I’m very comfortable with that draft pick. I would have selected Frank at that point in the draft myself. He’s a guy that fits in everything that we’re talking about right now. He’s a smart basketball player. He focuses defensively and his approach to the game, his work ethic, fit exactly in the direction that we want to take this team.”
New York decided to take the Ntilikina over other notable guards. The front office had internal debates about taking Dennis Smith Jr., Donovan Mitchell or Malik Monk over the French point guard, but ultimately passed on each.
Monk met with the team leading up to the draft and believed he would be the selection at No. 8.
“Me, my agent, everybody in my agency, my family – we all thought we were going to NY,” Monks said (via Bondy’s Twitter feed.
On the day of the draft, Chad Ford of ESPN.com predicted Monk or Ntilikina would be the selection for New York. Monk was nabbed by the Hornets with the No. 11 overall pick.
Just tag team with Kemba and make a playoff run next season Monk. I know you got that Kobe juice in you to be great.
Finally something we agree on
Ha I was thinking the same
Monk doesn’t realize how lucky he was to avoid the dumpster fire that is the Knicks.
People used to consider the Kings the laughing stock of the NBA….Now, look at what they have done since they traded away Cousins…
I’m not saying they are better without Cousins, but once the Kings were able to move on from Cousins, and the distraction and disfunction he created, they are now in a much better position moving forward. So much so, that analysts and reporters alike, all commented on what a great off-season it was for the Kings…
I could easily see the samething playing out for the Knicks. Once they get rid of Carmelo, and have an off-season or two to draft and rebuild, the Knicks can finally move on and begin a new chapter for their franchise…It will definitely take some time, but once Melo is gone, that will be the move that ultimately kickstarts a new brighter beginning for New York!!
Monk would definetly have been a top 5 pick in last years draft. To get him with the 11th pick should be seen as an absolute steal for the Hornets.
Hornets didn’t even work out Monk, but still took him because they never expected him to fall that far.
He’s good but still undersized for a NBA SG. And I don’t think he is a good 2 way SG also I don’t see him doing anything other than shooting. He’s a SG in a PG body.
So he’s Lou Williams, which is still a good player at 11.
Why draft Malik Monk when you can overpay THJ by $30 mil?
Lou Williams 2.0 Honestly a reach for a 1-dimensional score first player who cant play defense. I think Donavan Mitchell, Terrance Ferguson, Kyle kuzma, Justin Jackson are all more talented. Time will tell but monk seems like a player that won’t translate well.