Philadelphia 76ers: Reaching for Malik Monk is the right option

By Tyler Monahan | May 30, 2017

Mar 4, 2017; College Station, TX, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Malik Monk (5) dunks the ball during the second half against the Texas A&M Aggies at Reed Arena. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /

The Philadelphia 76ers have plenty of options with the 3rd pick in the NBA Draft, but none fit as well as Malik Monk.

It may seem like a bit of a reach, but after years of taking the best player available, it is time to take the best player for the system.

After an outstanding year at the University of Kentucky, Malik Monk is poised to be an early pick in the NBA Draft. Several mock drafts have Monk being selected around picks 5-8, but that isn’t a guarantee. In years past teams have made the bold decision to reach on a player based on what that team needs. Sometimes this works out for the best and other times it proves to be a mistake. With so many high draft picks already on the roster, the Sixers are in a good spot to reach on a player that has a good chance at paying off.

In just one year playing college basketball, Malik Monk has proven that he has the intangibles to provide an offensive spark to an NBA team. Scoring 19.8 points per game for one of the best teams in the nation, Monk is able to use his length to create separation and put use his shooting abilities to hurt opponents defenses. What the Sixers have missed over the last few years has been a go-to scorer who is a great shooter, Monk’s 39.7% from deep shows that he has that shooting touch.

More from Philadelphia 76ers

With a core of young players in Ben Simmons, Joel Embiid, Dario Saric, and Robert Covington, the Sixers don’t have to worry about selecting a player they need to build the team around. The most basic fan knows this team is based around Simmons and Embiid, which is why drafting an NBA ready scorer is the perfect decision. While he may not have the upside that a player like Markelle Fultz or Lonzo Ball might have, Monk, is the perfect fit.

Fans have been so used to “Trusting the Process” over the last several years, seemingly reaching for a player might feel like a step backward rather than a step forward. As a collective fanbase, Sixers fans must realize that the talent differential between the projected players going from sports three through eight isn’t drastic when a player is as good of a fit for the system as Monk is, it might be worth the risk.

Next: Sixers Draft Debate: De'Aaron Fox or Dennis Smith Jr.?

As soon as the 2017 season, a Sixers fast break could consist of Ben Simmons, Joel Embiid, and Malik Monk. The amount of athleticism as well as ability to shoot is almost mouthwatering. With so many ways to go with this pick, the Sixers have the ability to draft a player that can put them back into contention after years of struggle. Selecting someone projected to go later on in the draft is always a risk, but if the team believes it is the right choice, then they need to pull the trigger.