NBA Rumors: Detroit Pistons won’t let Greg Monroe walk

It has been a tough year for Detroit Pistons’ power forward Greg Monroe.

The Pistons expected to improve and potentially make the postseason, but they are just 27-48 entering Friday night’s game against the Brooklyn Nets.

Monroe has seen his productivity dip and is taking 12.1 shots per game this season as compared to 13.1 last season.

Monroe obviously isn’t happy and both he and forward Josh Smith are best used at the same position, the four.

The Pistons, however, will not let Monroe walk away in free agency, according to David Mayo of MLive.com.

"As for Monroe, letting him walk isn’t going to happen.  The Pistons may end up with a bit of a bloated contract but that’s what will happen if the issue is to lose him for nothing.  The possibility of a sign-and-trade would continue to exist, but realistically the market for Monroe is going to be limited to a relatively small number of teams looking specifically for an offensive-minded post hub.  Atlanta and Washington are the two that come immediately to mind.  If one of those teams offers Monroe a big contract that the Pistons don’t want to match, where do the Pistons turn for a sign-and-trade partner?  Most likely to that same tiny group of teams interested in Monroe in the first place.  And one of those teams — the one actually making the big offer — won’t entertain offers at that juncture, because why give Detroit something for Monroe if you think you can sign him away without it?"

Monroe is averaging 15.1 points, 9.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game this season.