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Milwaukee Bucks: Draft Prospects To Watch In Sweet Sixteen And Beyond

By Josh Cornelissen

Feb 25, 2017; Lexington, KY, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Malik Monk (5) celebrates with teammates forward Wenyen Gabriel (32) and forward Edrice Bam Adebayo (3) during the game against the Florida Gators in the second half at Rupp Arena. Kentucky defeated Florida 76-66. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 25, 2017; Lexington, KY, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Malik Monk (5) celebrates with teammates forward Wenyen Gabriel (32) and forward Edrice Bam Adebayo (3) during the game against the Florida Gators in the second half at Rupp Arena. Kentucky defeated Florida 76-66. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 19, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Malik Monk (5) reacts after a three-point basket against the Wichita State Shockers during the second half in the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Joseph-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 19, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Malik Monk (5) reacts after a three-point basket against the Wichita State Shockers during the second half in the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Joseph-USA TODAY Sports /

Unlikely To Fall: Malik Monk

Every season a few players pegged as lottery picks slip down the draft board, often due to an unusual combine measurement or the lack of any “buzz” leading into the draft.

There are a few players on teams still alive in the tournament currently slotted into the back half of the lottery that could conceivably slide down to Milwaukee’s draft position.

Malik Monk is an elite scorer, able to put the ball into the basket from anywhere on the court. He has a number of highlight-reel performances from this season, including dropping 47 points on North Carolina in one of the year’s best games.

He is expected to go anywhere from fourth in the draft to 10th.

Monk would be a perfect fit on a Milwaukee team always in need to scoring. With Khris Middleton, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Matthew Dellavedova providing elite wing defense, Monk’s defensive deficiencies would be less harmful.

His elite shooting would be conversely incredibly helpful, filling a need that has held the Bucks back from their offensive ceiling.

The reason Monk could drop is if he continues to have subpar outings in the tournament. The Kentucky Wildcats squeaked out a win against the underseeded Wichita State Shockers in the Round of 32 Sunday, with Monk contributing 14 points on just 3-10 shooting from the field.

He shot just 3-for-11 in the Wildcats’ closer-than-expected win over the Northern Kentucky Norse.

Malik Monk should go in the lottery, but his defensive limitations and propensity to shoot himself colder and colder could make some teams wary.

Add in the recent busts among sharpshooting NBA prospects, and another poor game for Kentucky could see Monk slip further than many thought possible just a few weeks ago.

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