New York Knicks: Full 2017 NBA Mock Draft With Upside Comparisons

6. Orlando Magic: Malik Monk, Kentucky Wildcats

Ultimate Upside Comparison: Bradley Beal
Safe Upside Comparison: Ben Gordon
Position: Guard
Age: 19 (2/4/1998)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’3″, 197 pounds, 6’6″
2016-17 Slash Line: .450/.397/.822
2016-17 Season Averages: 32.1 MPG, 19.8 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 2.3 APG, 0.9 SPG, 2.7 3PM

Malik Monk is a candidate to go as early as No. 3 overall in the 2017 NBA Draft. In this scenario, however, he slides to No. 6 overall and provides the Orlando Magic with the dynamic scoring threat who has been missing.

Monk is a positionally ambiguous player, but if the Magic utilize him properly, he could be a legitimately elite scorer in the modern NBA.

Allow me to preface Monk’s ultimate upside comparison by stating that he’s a tough player to compare to any one individual. The reality is: Monk has elite shooting range, works phenomenally without the ball, can create consistent penetration, and is a legitimately elite athlete.

Bradley Beal may be a fair comparison as far as the skill set is concerned, but Monk’s athletic ability borders on Russell Westbrook territory for a guard.

A safer upside comparison for Monk would be Ben Gordon, who experienced a polarizing NBA career. Like Gordon, Monk has all of the tools to be an elite player with an outside shot, plus athleticism, and the ability to occasionally create for others.

the hope is that Monk plays closer to the level of the ambitious upside comparison, but even the New York Knicks are intrigued by his potential.