Is Malik Monk now more of a Charlotte Hornets’ core piece or potential trade bait?
Over the first third of this Charlotte Hornets season, shooting guard Malik Monk has gone from bad to good to so-so.
Does that leave Monk still part of the Hornets’ long-term plans?
The Hornets drafted Monk out of Kentucky 11th overall in 2017. He has yet to start an NBA game. Starting isn’t the singular measure of success, but he obviously hasn’t had major impact, despite general manager Mitch Kupchak calling Monk this team’s best athlete at the end of last season.
The Hornets exercised Monk’s contract option for 2020-21, guaranteeing him about $5.3 million beyond this season. In the midst of a rebuild, is Monk still a core piece?
That leads your questions for this week’s Hornets mailbag:
IS MONK SOMEONE THE HORNETS STILL VIEW AS A KEY PIECE GOING FORWARD?
I wouldn’t consider Monk a “key piece” among young Hornets the way I would Devonte Graham or P.J. Washington. I would place him in the next tier with Miles Bridges and Dwayne Bacon (with Bridges clearly at that top of that trio) as young guys worth investing playing time.
Bobby Marks, ESPN’s front-office insider, advised me that guaranteeing Monk that $5.3 million was the right call to maintain whatever trade value Monk has. It won’t surprise me if Monk ends up in a trade package before the NBA’s February deadline.
Monk played a 10-game segment in November when he consistently scored in double figures and shot a high percentage. A lot of that was driving more, forcing teams to send him to the foul line. But he’s reverted lately to a pattern of single-figure games and mediocre shooting. Monk needs to constantly remind himself to attack the rim; he’s a different player when he does that relentlessly.
HOW WILL THE HORNETS MANAGE WITHOUT WASHINGTON?
Rookie Washington broke a finger in the Friday game in Chicago. He couldn’t play in Indianapolis on Sunday after starting the first 28 games of his rookie season, and figures to miss several more with the injury.
Coach James Borrego chose to start Cody Zeller, which meant centers Bismack Biyombo and Zeller on the floor together. I doubt that will be the frontcourt frequently.
Marvin Williams (sore right knee) and Nic Batum (sore left hand) both missing the Pacers’ game severely limited Borrego’s choices in reaction to losing power forward Washington. Williams is listed as probable to play Tuesday vs. the Sacramento Kings. With Washington out, Borrego will likely need Williams to play a lot the next few games, assuming Williams’ knee can handle it.
There’s always the option of Bridges playing as much power forward as small forward. That’s an easier switch if Batum is available at small forward, but Batum is listed as doubtful to play Tuesday.
DO YOU THINK MICHAEL KIDD-GILCHRIST IS PLAYING WELL ENOUGH TO BE TRADE BAIT?
I doubt a contender would be quick to take on MKG’s $13 million salary. He could be part of a larger trade package, but if he’s on another roster this season, the more likely route is a buyout, where he’d give up some (not a lot) of his guaranteed money to be released. If that happens, it would likely be after the Feb. 6 trade deadline.
I’m glad MKG has gotten a chance to play lately. He believes he has plenty left. Between the pivot to youth and the abundance of forwards on Charlotte’s roster, this situation isn’t good for him minutes-wise, but opting out of this season on his contract would have made no sense business-wise.
WHAT’S THE CHANCE OF THE HORNETS TRADING ONE OF THE EXPIRING CONTRACTS TO GET HELP IN A PLAYOFF PUSH?
I think there is about a 30% chance that one of the expensive expiring contracts — Williams, Biyombo or Kidd-Gilchrist — is traded. However, your question suggests the incentive would be a run at a playoff spot. I would not think that is why they’d make such a trade.
If they’re trading a veteran, they’d want a draft pick or a young player. In this rebuild, aa trade that makes them a little better now, but doesn’t have long-term value, doesn’t make sense.
WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR H0RNETS HOME GAMES TO AT LEAST BE CLOSE TO SOLD-OUT ON A CONSISTENT BASIS?
I understand why there was fan disinterest after the Hornets didn’t re-sign All-NBA point guard Kemba Walker. Even when they were losing, Walker gave hometown fans the prospect of seeing something special. This rebuild is the appropriate course, but fans aren’t obligated to show up through the down cycle.
Stars drive discretionary purchase of individual-game tickets. As Kupchak told me in September, it doesn’t make sense for the Hornets to try to be heavy players in free-agency next summer. So for the near future, a Hornets star has to be homegrown, via the draft.
Graham is as pleasant a surprise as any NBA player I’ve covered. But I don’t know that what he’s doing right now is going to change attendance at Spectrum Center.
