NBA: 5 best low-risk, high-reward free agents in the 2021 class

NBA’s best low-risk, high-reward free agents: Malik Monk

Doesn’t it feel like Malik Monk has been in the league longer than four years? Maybe that’s just a symptom of being on non-fun Hornets teams for three of them. But now, he is a free agent. And not even a restricted free agent! Charlotte did not extend him the qualifying offer, making him unrestricted. I do not want to hear anything about ‘same old Hornets’ from y’all either,  they have five useable guards, and making this decision early is efficient.

Monk really does not bring a ton to the table beyond shooting. But the shooting? It’s the real deal. Yeah, he’s slightly under-average for his career, but he’s coming off a season where he hit 40 percent on the most attempts a game for his career. The form is naturally pretty and it will remain so. We’ve seen guys like Nicolas Batum and Marvin Williams leave the Hornets and contribute to teams, but not someone as young as Monk (closest is Frank Kaminsky which…nevermind).

At worst? Whoever signs Monk to his next contract is getting an elite floor spacer, something that is super needed in today’s NBA. But he is 23. He’s never really been part of a fully functional roster. He could turn into so much more with the right system and coach. Basically no risk, and a very high potential for reward.