The Los Angeles Lakers were once again offseason winners with their roster haul. In their quest to be the winningest franchise in NBA history, they added future Hall of Famers in Russell Westbrook and Carmelo Anthony. They also reunited with Rajon Rondo and Dwight Howard, two players who were critical pieces to their 2020 NBA Championship. Amid all these blockbuster additions, there's one lone player who has stood out for head coach Frank Vogel. And that's none other than Malik Monk.
Lakers NBA Training Camp Standout
In Monk's first two preseason games donning the Purple and Gold, he dropped 15 and 18 points respectively. His baskets came from a mix of 3-pointers, mid-range jumpers, and lay-ups. Lakers fans were surprised by Monk's production. Some of them know Monk from his Charlotte Hornets days, especially how he could explode at any given moment. The fact that Rob Pelinka got him for a minimum deal was a great bargain. As such, it wasn't necessarily the number of points Monk recorded. It was how he scored and broke down defenses.
This type of production didn't surprise the Lakers themselves. And they also seem to know exactly how Monk will score. After all, days before the preseason games, head coach Frank Vogel noted that Monk's versatility is what he'll bring to the table. This means that he won't just stand around the corner and wait until LeBron James or Russell Westbrook feeds him the ball. Rather, Monk can be both a catch-and-shoot gunner and someone who initiates his own offense sets up his teammates as well. In the two preseason games, Monk was involved in plenty of pick-and-rolls — a setup he's comfortable with given his very good handles. Vogel cleared the air by noting that he won't necessarily assign Monk to be a primary orchestrator. The Lakers are already James, Westbrook, and Rondo. Rather, the presence of Monk gives Vogel lots of options on offense.
With both Westbrook and Rondo in the fold, there's a lot of talk about James taking a step back from his usual role in orchestrating plays. The man is 36-years-old and in his 19th year in the NBA. This tactic worked to perfection two years ago with Rondo in the fold. James remained healthy for the entire season and fans were also reminded how good of a slasher James really is. With Monk coming to his own, we may see a very similar picture this season as well. It's likely that Monk will be part of the second unit. Although his performance so far has led some fans to feel that he should take over Wayne Ellington's spot as the team's starting shooting guard.
This is all conjecture. At the end of the day, it's up to Vogel to make the right tweaks to maximize the pieces he's been given. Fans may see Vogel experiment in the first few games. This isn't a sign of indecision but a lot of trust in the process. Let's not forget that the Lakers are a very different team this year compared to last year. Props to Vogel and his crew for spotting Monk's potential as an offensive initiator.
For all the hype surrounding the signings of a bunch of future Hall of Famers, it's amazing how Monk was able to stand out. All in all, the Lakers seem to have a collection of talent that's bound to be immortalized in history. We're not just talking about the big names. Right now, when we're talking about the Lakers, we're also talking about a versatile player like Monk.
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