Monroe for a first?

http://www.sportingnews.com/nba/story/2014-12-15/nba-trade-rumor-greg-monroe-detroit-pistons-celtics-suns

According to NBA rules, Pistons forward Greg Monroe is now eligible to be traded. And, sources told Sporting News, he wants that, badly. But teams seeking Monroe will need to cough up a first-round pick, and that’s a sticking point.

Monroe was a restricted free agent this summer, but was unable to attract a sizable offer from another team — in part, because teams feared the Pistons would match the offer and later use Monroe as a trade chip, and in part, because no one is quite sure how much Monroe is worth. Monroe’s agent, David Falk, had several potential sign-and-trade deals in place, but the Pistons were unwilling to add to an already bloated payroll and passed.

MORE: Where could Stephenson end up? | Possible Mike Malone replacements | Top NBA moments

Instead, Monroe had to sign Detroit’s $5.5 million qualifying offer, making him a Piston for this year and allowing him to be an unrestricted free agent next summer. As part of that contract, under NBA rules, Monroe is allowed to veto any trade the Pistons come up with before February’s trading deadline.

But that won’t happen, a source with knowledge of the situation told Sporting News. Detroit is off to a brutal 5-19 start, and Monroe would be happy to exit stage left — though the Pistons want a first-rounder to help with their rebuilding in return.

“Everyone knows he wants out of there,” the source told SN. “There is almost nothing he would shoot down.”

(UPDATE 1: Monroe told reporters Monday night in Los Angeles that he is open to staying with the Pistons. "They put that stuff out there, say somebody said it and then I got to answer for it, I really don't have time for that," Monroe said before the Pistons' game against the Clippers, according to the Detroit Free Press.)

The Pistons have a few problems when it comes to moving Monroe.


Greg Monroe (Getty Images)

First, it’s been difficult to put a value on Monroe. If you go back to his second season in the league, Monroe averaged 15.4 points and 9.7 rebounds. His production has pretty much remained there ever since, and his PER has actually decreased incrementally in each season since. It doesn’t help that Monroe has mostly been on bad teams.

MORE: Kobe sees himself in Wiggins | Look back at MJ vs Kobe | NBA title odds

That blends in with another of the Pistons’ problems — in gauging Monroe’s trade value this summer, the team overshot by a long way. Detroit wanted an All-Star caliber player in return for Monroe, and that was not happening. Now a first-round pick will need to be in the mix.

(UPDATE 2: In the same Free Press article, Van Gundy denied that the team is seeking a first-rounder for Monroe. "I don't know where that stuff comes from," Van Gundy was quoted as saying. "We haven't talked to anybody about trading Greg Monroe.")

But there’s also the issue of how Monroe values himself. One reason teams were scared off from making an offer for Monroe, as several executives have told Sporting News, was the implication that he would want a max deal, as laid out by Falk. A deal that size will prove to be hard to find for a player who has not shown growth.

Now the Pistons face the prospect of trying to deal Monroe on a short-term basis. Detroit has included a first-rounder as the cost of trading for Monroe, but given his soon-to-be status as an unrestricted free agent, that could prove to be too high a price. No one wants to give up a draft pick for a player who could be signed as a free agent next summer.

Of teams with multiple picks in the upcoming draft, the Celtics and Suns are potential destinations for Monroe. The Suns could be loaded with picks, but that depends on how things go for the Timberwolves and Lakers, who owe the Suns picks that could wind up being protected. Even still, Phoenix is said to be in the market for a big man who can defend — not a strong suit for Monroe.

The Celtics could, eventually, have interest in Monroe, but as the team sorts out the roster and determines the future of point guard Rajon Rondo, there’s no pressing need for a trade.


My Note:

we'd have to send back at least Monroe's salary back to Detriot for the deal to work cap wise. Bass and a future number one comes to mind.

Only if we can sign him to a longer deal now. I do not want to give up draft picks unless it was the LAC pick which could be in the low 20's.

Bring on Monroe.............if he's good you now have the ability to trade Sully as part of a package for a center. I doubt we find an immediate plug in center in the draft. We need to be creative and trade for one.

112288

that's what I was thinking also. Bass and the Clippers late pick (or the future Cleveland pick).

Since Bass is a FA next season also, even without a side agreement with Monroe about re-signing, we'd only be out a late first round pick.

I think I'd take that deal myself and rent Monroe the rest of this year to see if he can be a part of the future.

KDP

Great minds think alike....LOL


112288

Monroe may make the Celtics better in the short-term, but I don't see how he fits in with the long-term rebuild.

As was mentioned on another thread recently, they need players who can be productive offensively AND defend. Monroe fits only one half of that description.

The reason the Pistons drafted Andre Drummond after having Monroe for a couple of years is that they figured out Monroe isn't an NBA center. He won't solve the Celtics' center issue.

He occupies the same space offensively as Sullinger (except he doesn't shoot the three), rebounds like him, and doesn't defend particularly well. Why get another Sullinger?

There's a scouting video for him here:

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Greg-Monroe-1109/

I'm open to anything as long as Danny has a paint protector in hand or squarely in his sights because Monroe is not that. I'm not convinced he's even Sully, but with Monroe Sully is expendable.

Monroe has a nice game around the basket but he doesn't have Sully's range and I don't like his defense at all.

It's all about a paint protector.


bob


.

Outside,

We are not talking center position but a more athletic PF who has great hands.  Sully cannot play above the rim and given the NBA athlete of today who is overall more athletic ........he will be limited as his career continues.

Also you say he does not fit long term....if not why....and are you equating him to be our center and not a PF?

To find another player like KG who was a gifted PF who could score and play defense is 1 in a million.  Please let me know when you find such a creature like him.

By the way, neither can Sully hit the 3 pter.............you know KG never did.

The scouting video is very old (3-4 years) and talks about his college days. Night and day from college to pro ball and what you are doing. I bet you would love Danny Green of SA now.......did not have a strong college scouting report also

112288

I think Monroe is a better CENTER than anyone we currently have on this roster.

is he a Championship caliber NBA center.....I don't know is Bosh?


at this point we are a bad team with mis-matched parts. Dany's job is to IMPROVE the talent level and improve the team. NO deal (aside from LeBron) is going to make this team a contender over night....no matter how much we want it.

112288 wrote:The scouting video is very old (3-4 years) and talks about his college days.  Night and day from college to pro ball and what you are doing.

No, the scouting video is from July 2014. Did you even watch it? They pointed out a particular play against Chris Babb, who's only NBA experience is on the Celtics last year.

112288 wrote:We are not talking center position but a more athletic PF who has great hands.  Sully cannot play above the rim and given the NBA athlete of today who is overall more athletic ........he will be limited as his career continues.

Again, I don't think you watched the video. One of the specific weaknesses shown for Monroe is lack of verticality and playing below the rim.

112288 wrote:Also you say he does not fit long term....if not why....and are you equating him to be our center and not a PF?

Again, as explained in the video, he's a "tweener." Defensively, he's too slow to handle power forwards and not strong enough or active enough to deal with centers. Offensively, he doesn't have a post-up, back-to-the basket game like a center, yet he doesn't have any significant range like a power forward. He is still productive offensively with those limitations, but those limitations are why he has plateaued. His stats have actually trended down since 2012-13.

They need to add pieces who can play at both ends. Sullinger and Olynyk have their pluses obviously, but they are not generally at the defensive end. You can make up for that with a strong defensive presence in the post, but adding a big man who is an even worse defender makes no sense when considering the ultimate goal, which is to be a championship contender.

112288 wrote:To find another player like KG who was a gifted PF who could score and play defense is 1 in a million.  Please let me know when you find such a creature like him.

He doesn't need to be KG, but he needs to bring something to the table defensively. Sadly, he does not. He is one of the worst big men in the league defensively, and scoring 15 points and grabbing nine rebounds per game doesn't make up for it.

In previous years, he got a blocked shot about every other game. This season, he gets a blocked shot every fifth game. While playing almost 30 minutes per game for 23 games this season, he has a grand total of four blocks. Even Kevin Love has nine blocks in 23 games.

His points and rebounds make him a pretty good fit for a fantasy team, but on a real team, you have to play defense. He doesn't.

112288 wrote:By the way, neither can Sully hit the 3 pter.............you know KG never did.

Two points: KG wasn't a three-point shooter, but he had a very good 20-footer. He had range. Monroe doesn't even have a decent 15-footer.

Also, KG played under Doc's system, and now they run Stevens' system, where having a power forward who can hit the three is a valuable part of the system.

JUST GOING BY ALL THE POSTS IN YOU WEB SITE POSTING TODAY

The Detroit system has sucked for years and any player is a product of the environment he plays in, such as Zeller who is now showing some promise. So I do not go by a scouting report you try porn off as being the bible of scouting reports, because they do not take into consideration the coaching staff the player is laboring under.

And you say Monroe is too slow........ever take a look at Sullinger run the floor lately???
Monroe has better leaping ability then Sullinger could ever dream of unless he cal lose 50 pounds. He is another Big Baby........which we certainly do not need. Opposing players blow by Sully playing PF ........so where's his defense in the paint?

NCAA Weekly Performers, 3/18/10
March 18, 2010


NCAA Weekly Performers, 12/10/09
December 10, 2009
Matt Kamalsky


NCAA Weekly Performers, 3/16/09
March 16, 2009

Blogging through the Conference Tournaments
March 11, 2009

College Road Report: UConn – Georgetown
December 31, 2008


Jordan Brand Classic Games (Day Three)
April 20, 2008

Jordan Brand Classic Scrimmage (Day Two)
April 19, 2008


Nike Hoop Summit Recap: Team USA
April 16, 2008

2007 City of Palms Classic: Greg Monroe vs. Samardo Samuels
December 24, 2007

.
LeBron James Skills Academy Day Three
July 10, 2007

LeBron James Skills Academy Day Two
July 7, 2007


Las Vegas AAU Summer Tournaments: Thoughts from Day Three
July 25, 2006

Outside,

I would suggest you and others look at the video again http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Greg-Monroe-1109/ and include all the positives of his game that you failed to list.  May I give you a sampling and all the positives are what Stevens is trying to develop...a running game.

* Description by Draft Express - FLUID, CAPABLE POST SCORER, PASSING ABILITY, YOUTH

* Adequate for his size and can drive the bsaket
* Good pop mid range and has attacking closeout
* Very coordinated, can get up and down 1.32 PPP in transition
* In transition - very effective getting up and down the floor - ONLY 4 CENTERS WITH OVER 100 TRANSITION POSSESSIONS - 1.32PPP
* Ability to PICK AND POP - very effective in open space - ability to close out.
* Very effective FACE UP DRIVE - Uses jab step to his right.
* Great hook shot.
* Great passer.

Love the video showing him going over flat footed Sullinger for a score.

I guess that is enough for now.

112288

LOL, I'm glad you're now on board with the video. I'll take that as a plus.

Of course Monroe has positives. He's a good scorer and rebounder. The problem isn't at the offensive end, except for the overlap they'd have with Monroe, Sullinger, and Olynyk.

I've said that he would help in the short term. That's not the problem.

If they did the trade kdp proposed -- Bass and a first for Monroe -- you'd have three power forwards who are defensive liabilities, and as weak as Sullinger and Olynyk can be, Monroe would be the worst of the bunch. With that in mind, I don't see how the trade helps the long-term goal of building a contender. With Monroe's defense, I don't see how he would ever be part of a contender. He is horrid at that end of the floor.

Saying Sullinger is poor defensively is not an argument in Monroe's favor. It instead proves my point that you could not have both on a contending team. If you want to trade Sullinger for Monroe, fine, but understand that you'll get better offensive production, but one that doesn't fit Stevens' system as well, and a worse defender, and a player who may have very well maxed out.

The Celtics already have too many bigs who aren't good defenders. I don't see why bringing in an even worse defender is helpful in the long term.

Outside,

Still think Monroe is a PF who could be of value to the Celtics. But he does fit Stevens run and gun style which Sully I believe cannot sustain long term during a game.

112288

No. Unless the next major trade is for a defensive intimidator, I want no parts of it.


KJ

Monroe would be an upgrade at PF and his inside scoring ability woyld enhance the inside out game.

We still need a defensive center.

Dboss