CAMDEN, N.J. -- Kentucky guard Malik Monk's pre-draft workouts are finished. He traveled to New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix and Orlando to work out in front of coaches and executives and says he feels he made a strong impression on each franchise.
"I think I fit great everywhere I worked out at," Monk said after his workout with the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday. "That's why I picked the workouts."
Monk will almost certainly be available when Philadelphia picks next Thursday night. The Sixers have the No. 3 pick in the draft and Monk is widely expected to go outside of the top three. But Sixers executive Bryan Colangelo has said that Philadelphia will consider trading the pick -- presumably for a pick lower in the first round and other assets.
One player that some in the Sixers organization are fans of is North Carolina State's Dennis Smith Jr., according to league sources. If Philadelphia selected either Monk or Smith it probably would be after trading the third pick for a pick lower in the draft. Philadelphia, obviously, is also looking at players who are projected to go top three. The club will work out De'Aaron Fox on Saturday.
As for Monk, he said his workous in both Philadelphia and New York went well. He had dinner with New York Knicks president Phil Jackson the night before his individual workout and spent most of the workout running through the triangle offense, he said, which is more evidence that the club plans to rely heavily on the offense next season.
"That's all they were doing and focusing on," Monk said.
He added that he believes he'd be a good fit in the offense, which some veterans in New York have struggled with and rebelled against.
"A lot of movement," Monk said about the triangle. "It's movement off the ball. I move off the ball great. I think it's great for me."
He also said he was enamored by Jackson's presence. The executive, whose teams have struggled over the past three seasons, didn't say much to Monk during their dinner, which probably included other Knicks personnel.
"It was crazy just seeing them there watching me because I've seen him with Kobe and Jordan and great players like that," said Monk, who averaged 19.8 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists last season at Kentucky, shooting 40 percent from beyond the arc. "I'm just thankful to be in that situation."
Members of the Knicks organization are fans of Monk, Smith and Frank Ntilikina, among other players projected at No. 8. They also worked out Duke's Luke Kennard and are expected to work out Louisville's Donovan Mitchell, per sources.
The club was among several teams present at Smith's pro day on Thursday and has scouted Ntilikina extensively in France, where his SIG Strasbourg team is competing in the French League championship series.
Smith's camp is discussing a potential workout/meeting with the Boston Celtics and have talked to the Sixers about scheduling a workout/meeting, per league sources.
Mavs interested in Justin Holiday: In addition to the Dallas Mavericks targeting Jrue Holiday in free agency, members of the organization also see his brother and Knicks wing Justin Holiday as a target, sources confirm.
ESPN reported last month that the Mavericks see Jrue as a target and Justin has discussed in the past his desire to play alongside his brother. The Knicks would probably like to re-sign Holiday, but they will undoubtedly have competition for the 28-year-old, who is a solid defender and knocked down 36 percent of his 3-point attempts last season.
Sports Illustrated was first to report the Mavericks seeing Justin Holiday as a free-agent target.... The Knicks had Indiana's James Blackmon Jr. in for a workout last Monday, per league sources. Blackmon Jr. told HoopsHype that he's worked out for several teams. He's projected by some as a late second-round pick. The Knicks have the 44th and 58th picks in the draft and have worked out several players who should be available in that range. Blackmon Jr. averaged 17 points and hit 42.3 percent of his 3-point attempts at Indiana last season.