As Charlotte Hornets coach Steve Clifford returns to the bench this week, he addressed on Friday the hot-button topic of why rookie Malik Monk doesn’t play more.
Monk, the 11th overall pick, has played little since mid-December. Associate head coach Stephen Silas, filling in for Clifford during a medical leave, tightened and shifted the rotation. That meant fewer minutes for Monk and fellow rookie Dwayne Bacon, and more for veteran Treveon Graham.
It doesn’t sound like that will change when Clifford (who was dealing with severe headaches) starts coaching again Wednesday against the Washington Wizards.