Free agents the Chicago Bulls could sign as an upgrade over Denzel Valentine: Malik Monk
A consistent rise in the production and efficiency for the former Kentucky Wildcats star and Charlotte Hornets 6-foot-3 and 200-pound 23-year-old shooting guard Malik Monk came to a head this season. Monk was one of the most effective shooters at his position group from deep during the regular season, and his overall scoring was taken to new heights.
During the regular season, Monk averaged a career-best 11.7 points per game, 2.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 0.5 steals, and 0.1 blocks. In fact, all but one of those per-game stats were good for career bests for Monk this season.
And he shot 43.4 percent from the field, 40.1 percent from beyond the arc, and 81.9 percent from the free-throw line. Monk actually ranked among the three best guards in three-point shooting percentage for much of the regular season.
Monk also should not be expected to start if he were to sign with a team like the Bulls this summer. While he could cost more than $7 million annually on his next contract, he should fit into more of a seventh or eighth man role if he continues to improve his game the way he did this season.
The Hornets’ 11th overall pick in the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft Monk is set to become a restricted free agent this summer. But just like Hart, Monk will not be due starter-level money in restricted free agency.
Monk would be a nice fit for a budding backcourt with the Bulls that could have a lot of potent strength to it on the offensive end of the floor. The main question marks would still lie on the defensive end of the floor for the Bulls. But the front office wouldn’t be signing Monk with the knowledge that he would improve the defense.