Malik Monk To Be A Sun? Wacky Pre-Draft Rumors Keep On Coming

Rumors have been floating around the NBA for the past two weeks indicating that we might be in for a less “chalk” first few picks than we originally had planned for. With some saying that the Lakers are not fully sold on Lonzo Ball yet; that the Sixers are willing to trade down in the draft for the right price; and even that the Kings trying to dump their #5 and #10 selections, to trade up into the top three picks, there is speculation all across the board.

The newest rumors from Phoenix is that Malik Monk just impressed in his Suns workout. Does he now pose as a legitimate candidate to be the Suns’ top pick? Let’s talk it out.

For a while the Suns have seemed destined to choose who would be available between Josh Jackson and Jayson Tatum at their current spot. But with the new rumors referenced above, and how others have impressed in their workouts, Monk highlights a few new names that are being discussed as the next possible top Suns draft pick.

This week Monk raised some eyebrows and perhaps convinced some upper-level management of his worthiness to wear a Suns uniform next season in his private workouts with the team. I am here to tell you, that although he is a tremendous scorer, he is not what we need.

I know, I know. Bring him in, and the Suns now have a legitimate wing scoring duo. Alongside Booker, another Calipari-product, the two could potentially pour the points in. But a slender 6’3″ wing isn’t exactly ideal when it comes to the defensive side of the ball, the end of the court where the Suns are in desperate need of real improvement. However, believe it or not, Monk can be an interesting prospect as the fourth pick in other ways, that in fact could benefit the Suns.

Monk has been rumored to be on the top of the New York Knicks big board, and boy do they need a seemingly “NBA scoring ready” player, like him. Well, we all know that the Knicks franchise has been nothing short of a dumpster fire for about a year now (who are we kidding, much longer than that), most recently highlighted by Kristaps Porzingis expressing his unsettledness with where the franchise is going.

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Let’s talk hypotheticals just for a second here. In all honesty, seeing the Knicks possibly willing to trade Porzingis wouldn’t be the biggest surprise, and for the right price, it could honestly make some sense. Suns management, if you are reading this, let’s hop on the phone with good ol’ Phil Jackson and discuss the idea of sending the rights of the fourth pick (could be Monk), and a guy like Eric Bledsoe, who could finally fill the void of a franchise PG, over to the Big Apple, in exchange for 3-6-Latvia. To trace for a player like Porzingis, who shows extreme improvement each year and who seems to be not even close to his potential (kind of like Devin Booker), he would be an enormous addition, to the youthful, but hungry, Phoenix Suns.

I think if you persuade it enough, and in the right way, we just might be able to get Phil to make yet another huge move in New York.

So no, Malik Monk doesn’t make the most sense to be the next Suns top pick. But he just might be the kicker in a deal to make another team “help us, help you”. All we can do is wait and see.

Follow Drew on Twitter: @Drew_Zlogar

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