Monte Morris
Position: Point Guard
Age: 21 (6/27/1995)
Height: 6’2.5″
Weight: 175 pounds
Wingspan: 6’4″
Playing Style Comparison: Jameer Nelson
Worth a trade: Maybe
Iowa State floor general Monte Morris set the stage for the Iowa State Cyclones, showing high I.Q and leadership. He’s among the most pro-ready NBA prospects coming out of the draft.
Acknowledging the state of the New York Knicks and the point guard dilemma, Morris can patch a hole and provide immediate efficiency to an offense that lacks the threat of a point guard who can create for himself, as well as for others.
PROS
- Monte Morris is perhaps among the most developed players coming in the 2017 NBA Draft. He quite simply owns a well-rounded game at the point guard position. Morris has an ideal height, and possesses I.Q and fundamentals that are simply unteachable. He led the NCAA in assist to turnover ratio and “Pure Point Guard” rating. “Pro-Readiness” as indicated in the video above is the ideal word to describe Monte Morris.
- Morris’ intensity fits well with the competitive mystique of the NBA. He’s always attentively active and thinking on both ends of the floor. Morris has shown to rival Lonzo Ball as one of the best point guards in transition. Overall, Morris is the two-way “point guard” idealist of this draft, which is something we don’t see very often.
- Monte Morris is a perimeter threat, more so from midrange than from three. The great part of Morris’ game is his efficiency as a shooter. He doesn’t need to be a volume shooter to be effective as a shooter. He pick his spots as a scorer and rarely forces a tough shot unless it’s necessary.
CONS
- Don’t expect Morris to evolve his skillset from what it is now. The Iowa State senior is arguably “overdeveloped” as an NBA prospect. Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. But it does highlight his less than versatile characteristics at being a straight forward floor general.
- Remember when I said Morris is the two-way “point guard idealist” in this year’s draft? Monte Morris’s defensive measurebles don’t quite matchup to his offensive skillset. As indicated by the presented video by DraftExpress: A breakdown of his deficiencies is more about his on-ball play than off-ball. Which is concerning transitioning to a point guard dominant league like the NBA.
- Morris doesn’t have a pro-ready frame, and he’ll likely have to compensate everything with finesse. Unlike Malik Monk, Morris plays at his size instead of above it.
Worth a Trade?
Monte Morris is only worth a trade if the New York Knicks give up their pursuit of Ricky Rubio. If they do, I believe it’s imperative that the Knicks draft him. His proficiency as a shooter compensates for what Rubio lacks as a player. What Rubio has in defense, Morris makes up for by being five years younger.
In addition, Monte Morris has the I.Q to develop into a solid on-ball defender. All he needs is the encouragement and work ethic. And that can be provided with the wide-open competition to earn a starter position at point guard for the Knicks.
Having the opportunity to bring the ball down the court at Madison Square Garden can certainly motivate players.
Must Read: Five reasons to trade for Maurice Harkless
Although these scenarios may be a reach to some, it doesn’t dispute the fact that the New York Knicks are a complete non-attraction for “A” and “B-grade” free agents, as the team roster stands the way it is. If any draft should be taken advantage of, it’s this one.