NBA Rumors: Keeping Greg Monroe part of Detroit Pistons’ ‘plan’

Although Detroit Pistons’ power forward Greg Monroe has seemed unhappy throughout the season, the Pistons did not do a lot of shopping with Monroe before last week’s trade deadline and want to keep him long term according to Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders.

"Pistons sources say that keeping Monroe long-term is still very much part of the plan, however there is an admission that the plan could change once a new general manager is brought in, but that ownership he is talking directly with Pistons players on a regular basis believes that Monroe and center Andre Drummond are the corner stones of his team and that Smith may be the guy that has to be moved."

The problem has been the signing of forward Josh Smith, which didn’t make sense from the start.

The Pistons have tried to play Smith at small forward alongside Monroe and very promising young center Andre Drummond and it just hasn’t worked out.

Moving on from Smith and his massive contract makes more sense than moving on from Monroe, but it will be very difficult to do.

Monroe has struggled and is having his worst season since his rookie year (2010-11).

Monroe is averaging  14.7 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.0 steals per game.