Malik Monk sees himself as an NBA combo guard

Malik Monk knows he doesn't pass the eye test.

So it doesn't bother the former Kentucky standout when critics doubt that his slight frame will be durable enough to defend NBA shooting guards.

"People are always going to say what they want," Monk said Thursday afternoon after his 76ers put him through a workout alone at the team's Camden practice facility.

"Some people said I couldn't play off the ball when I went to Kentucky," he added. "I think I did a good job at that. I just have to adjust."

But the 6-foot-3, 197-pounder probably wouldn't have to match up against shooting guards if the Sixers select him in the first round of the NBA draft on Thursday. He probably would defend the opposing teams' point guards. On offense, Monk would move off the ball while 6-foot-10 Ben Simmons assumes the point-guard duties.

Monk sees himself as a combo guard, regardless of where he lands in the draft.

"I think I can do both," he said of point guard and shooting guard.

The Sixers have the third pick in the first round and four selections in the second, Nos. 36, 39, 46, and 50. Monk might be a reach at No. 3. However, he would be a solid pick a couple of slots later if the Sixers move down via a trade.

One option could be the Sixers trading the third overall pick to the Sacramento Kings for picks 5 and 10.

Thursday was Monk's final workout. His other workouts were with the Phoenix Suns (who have the fourth pick), Orlando Magic (sixth), and New York Knicks (eighth). The Sixers put him through three-on-three drills with coaches and staff.

Monk is arguably the draft's best shooter. The Sixers saw his long-range shooting ability last month in a workout arranged by his sports agency.

"We know that he can shoot the ball and we were excited to see that," Sixers executive Brandon Williams said. "We wanted to challenge him in some other ways. This would be the first time that a shooter has done so much defense in a workout. But it's really important to see a full suite of skills."

Monk struggled to make shots early on during the portion of the workout that the media witnessed, but he turned things around. In his defense, the three-on-three workout was designed to make things tough for him. The defenders often left the player they were guarding to collapse on Monk whenever he drove the lane.

"We also wanted to see how creative he is with the dribble," said Williams, who is also general manager of the Delaware 87ers, the Sixers' developmental league team. "Watching Kentucky's system, we know that he comes off pin-downs, he worked out of corners, scored in transition, but could he do some things in tight spaces? We wanted to see him challenged by shot blockers, so we tried to simulate that a little bit."

Monk, who is righthanded, was put in situations in which he had to finish with his left hand on drives. At the conclusion of the workout, they put him through a three-point drill.

"I think I did a pretty good job," said Monk, 19. "I was comfortable with whatever they put me through. Knocked down a couple shots, able to read off the ball screens and dribble handoffs, stuff like that. I think I did pretty good."

In the morning, small forward Dillon Brooks (Oregon) dominated a workout that included guard Josh Hart and forward Darryl Reynolds of Villanova, guard Jack Gibbs (Davidson), guard Dylan Ennis (Villanova and Oregon), and forward Tidjan Keita (France).

Brooks ran the floor well and basically scored on everyone who guarded him. On one play, he rained a three in front of Hart. On another, he grabbed a defensive rebound, rushed up the court and scored while being fouled by Keita.

On Friday, the Sixers will work out center Amida Brimah (Connecticut), forwards Jamel Artis (Pittsburgh) and Isaac Humphries (Kentucky), and guards London Perrantes (Virginia), Davon Reed (Miami), and Jeremy Senglin (Weber State).

Follow and contact 76ers beat writer Keith Pompey on Twitter and on Instagram at PompeyOnSixers.