Is a Greg Monroe for Roy Hibbert trade in the works between the Pistons and Pacers?
Dec 16, 2013; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Detroit Pistons center Greg Monroe (10) saves the ball from going out of bounds while guarded by Indiana Pacers center Roy Hibbert (55) and forward Paul George (24) at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
The Greg Monroe rumor mill is rumbling yet again on this Sunday evening. According to Matt Dery of Detroit Sports 105.1, the Indiana Pacers have contacted the Detroit Pistons about swapping Greg Monroe for Roy Hibbert.
Lots of chatter about Greg Monroe today. Pacers shopping Hibbert and a source tells me they have called the Pistons about him. All I know.
— Matt Dery (@DerySpeaks) August 10, 2014
This news comes on the same day that the Pacers allegedly offered Roy Hibbert, Chris Copeland and cash for the Phoenix Suns, Goran Dragic.
It’s likely that the Pacers are looking to improve the team with a player that can be the main option on offense, perhaps in the wake of losing Paul George. The move would make sense for Indiana, as they compete in a highly competitive Eastern Conference. They could use a guy like Monroe or Dragic to use up possessions. Having Rodney Stuckey or C.J. Miles take too many shots will likely result in a drop in efficiency.
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However, there is little reason for the Pistons to take such a speculative offer as they’d likely be able to net a much better return than just Hibbert.
News out of the Detroit camp is that the Pistons and Greg Monroe aren’t making much headway on a new contract. There have been reports suggesting that the Pistons recently increased their contract offer to Monroe, though the former Georgetown product says he never received such an offer.
"@millerfootball5: Come on @M10OSE how can you reject a 5 year 60 million deal" < cant reject anything that was not offered to me...carry on
— Greg Monroe (@M10OSE) August 10, 2014
Monroe played all 82 games for Detroit and averaged 15.2 points, 9.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists over 32.8 minutes per game. Although he doesn’t have much shooting range, he’s lot better on offense than Hibbert but isn’t nearly as good defensively.
Multiple reports have suggested that the Pistons have engaged themselves in sign-and-trade scenarios involving Monroe this offseason as the Forward/Center has said he “isn’t excited about the idea of returning to Detroit“. The Atlanta Hawks, Portland Trailblazers, Phoenix Suns, New Orleans Pelicans have all been mentioned though none of the deals ever manifested due to Detroit’s elevated price tag.
I definitely wouldn’t expect this to be the last trade rumor involving Indiana or Detroit. Stay tuned to Detroit Jock City for continued coverage.