NBA Trade Rumors: Detroit Pistons Seeking First-Round Pick for Greg Monroe?
The Detroit Pistons abysmal start to the 2014 season has sparked more than just displeasure from fans in the Motor City, it’s also stimulated some interesting NBA trade rumors.
Recently, the deadline passed that allows players acquired via free agency in the offseason to be traded to other teams. The Pistons dismal 5-20 start has caused some to speculate that building for the future may be the best thing to do at this point. Currently, Detroit sits six games out of the Eastern Conference playoff picture.
Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Pistons head hancho, Stan Van Gundy needs to decide if he has seen enough out of his young squad to try to right the ship in Detroit, or if he should begin making his roster moves this summer.
Where to begin though?
The melodrama that is the Greg Monroe saga has been well documented since last season. The young forward is believed to want out of Detroit, and a possible trade may be the best way for both sides to part. Monroe is eligible to be traded after signing a $5.4 million qualifying offer as a restricted free agent.
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.
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.
Sean Deveney of Sporting News reported that the Pistons are willing to trade Monroe and are seeking a first-round pick in return.
Sources: Pistons asking first-round pick for disgruntled Greg Monroe http://t.co/5LJfezXPgQ
— Sean Deveney (@SeanDeveney) December 15, 2014
"“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 does have the option to decline the trade, however many believe that it’s unlikely he would do so.
SB Nation listed Monroe as one of four “disappointing offseason signings” that could now be traded.
"“It’s possible that Monroe, who’s averaging 15 points and nine rebounds in 30 minutes per game for the 5-19 Pistons, believes that playing for a new team would provide him with the opportunity to show the league that he’s worthy of a maximum contract. But that’s mostly for naught if the team acquiring him can’t pay him that.”"
Giving up a first-round pick for a player who has spent a majority of the 2014 season coming off the bench behind Josh Smith may seem steep, but crazier NBA trade rumors have come true. Sporting News listed the Boston Celtics and Phoenix Suns as potential trade partners.
Furthermore, the NBA TV show “The Starters” drew up the idea of Detroit sending Monroe and Jonas Jerebko to the Celtics in exchange for Jeff Green, who is having a career season averaging 20 points per game in Boston so far this year.
Now, we throw a wrench straight into the spokes.
On Monday Monroe told reporters in Los Angles that he was actually open to staying with the Pistons, via the Detroit Free Press:
"“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.”"
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.”"
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It will be interesting to see what SVG decides to do with Monroe. If Detroit continues to struggle, evasive action may be taken. When and if something does happen, the best part about the deal may be the fact that this rumor will finally be put to rest once and for all.
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