Throughout the season, Hoops Rumors takes a closer look at players who will be free agents or could become free agents this off-season. We examine if their stock is rising or falling due to performance and other factors. This week, we take a look at players from the Southeast Division:
Malik Monk, Hornets, 23, SG (Up) – Signed to a four-year, $15.7MM deal in 2017
Monk has forced his way back into Charlotte’s rotation — 36-point explosions will do that for you. Monk’s scoring outburst led the Hornets to an overtime victory against Miami on Monday. That was sandwiched by an 18-point game against Milwaukee and a 13-point output against Philadelphia. A 2017 lottery pick, Monk has never shot better than 34.2% from deep in his first three seasons and bottomed out at 28.4% last season. He’s made 52.5% of his long-range shots this season. Charlotte would have to extend Monk a $7MM+ qualifying offer to make him a restricted free agent this summer. The Hornets might opt to deal him this winter but Monk will continue to pump up his value if he keeps shooting like this.
Tony Snell, Hawks, 29, SG (Down) – Signed to a four-year, $46MM deal in 2017
Snell had a player option that was much too lucrative to turn down last offseason. When he becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer, he’ll be looking at substantially smaller offers that the one he received from Milwaukee in 2017. Snell started regularly for Detroit last season but he hasn’t gotten much floor time with Atlanta despite several injuries to wing players. He played a season-high 24 minutes against Utah on Thursday but once De’Andre Hunter and Bogdan Bogdanovic return to action, Snell will reside at the end of the bench once again.
Kendrick Nunn, Heat, 25, SG (Down) – Signed to a three-year, $3.1MM deal in 2018
Nunn was one of the league’s feel-good stories last season, an undrafted rookie who graduated from the G League to become a starter with the Heat, then finished second in the Rookie of the Year voting after averaging 15.3 PPG and 3.3 APG in 67 regular-season games. However, he lost his starting job in the Orlando bubble following a bout with COVID-19 and hasn’t regained it this season. Nunn was playing regularly when Jimmy Butler battled the virus last month but he has fallen completely out of the rotation the last three games. Avery Bradley‘s latest injury should allow him to regain his spot. Nunn’s qualifying offer is a meager $2.1MM if he doesn’t meet the starter criteria, so he’ll likely become a restricted free agent. Still, it’ll be harder to land a big offer sheet from another club if his playing time continues to wildly fluctuate.
Ish Smith, Wizards, 32, PG (Down) – Signed to a two-year, $12MM deal in 2019
Smith has carved out a nice career as a second-unit sparkplug. He’s always been capable of tossing in a 20-point night with his quickness and driving ability. Those outings haven’t occurred this season. He’s only reached double digits once despite averaging a steady 20.7 MPG. He’s still making a positive contributor with his passing – he’s averaged 7.0 assists the last five games – but he’s 1-for-12 from the field in his last two games despite playing 54 minutes. At 32, Smith will find it increasingly difficult to get offers ahead of younger players. That reality could strike as early as this summer.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Monk was a really good Kentucky player. He needs a new situation. I’ll bet he can knock down some shots in a 2nd unit role on the right team. CHA has started doing that, but for trading purposes probably.
He was very good at Kentucky, but his biggest asset was being very good at the right times. His coming out party was a 43 point performance in a national TV game against North Carolina. Kind of like Zion when he went off against UK. Before that game Monk was a highly ranked recruit, but no more than several others on the team. But after that game, for better or worse, UK became Monk’s team.
Probably benefits from Lamelo.
How is Nunn down?? He’s averaging 12pts in 25 minutes. That’s pretty solid.
It says in the script that he is down because he has fallen out of the rotation in the past 3 games. PPG does not take that into account.
It doesn’t matter if he fell out of the rotation. He’s still putting up solid numbers. I can guarantee a team will throw an offer sheet.
Monk is undersized SG. He is best as third guard. Still has not shown consistency. Some of that you have to put on coaching. Now with Ball, Graham, Rozier backcourt is getting crowded. I wonder if Cavs would be interested in Monk. Cause Char could sure use McGee. Hornets have been right there at 8th seed. I know MJ would like to make playoffs. Even with McGee they are still young and growing. Big gm for Ball. His handle is getting tighter. Good sign
First full game of Lamelo’s I watched. I see he is green on defense & isn’t the highest IQ in that skillset, but the kid is really working hard out there. He made a denial on a lob to Gobert that was a phenomenal defensive play. I was impressed with what I saw out of him. That kid is so much better than Graham or Rozier it isn’t funny.
Stock Watch Updates Please on the Following Players:
Adrian Monk
Tony Smell
Catholic Nun
Ish Icky
Kendrick NUNN just has BAD HABITS !!!