NBA Rumors: Pistons’ Greg Monroe to ask for max deal

It was a difficult season Detroit Pistons’ big man Greg Monroe.

After becoming the focal point of the team, the Pistons executed a sign-and-trade with the Milwaukee Bucks for point guard Brandon Jennings and signed Atlanta Hawks’ free agent forward Josh Smith.

The Pistons tried to make Smith a small forward to play alongside Monroe and center Andre Drummond, but quickly realized Smith is better suited to play power forward.

Monroe became frustrated and was upset the team let coach Maurice Cheeks go. There was talk that Monroe could be trade, but nothing ever came to fruition.

Despite his apparent unhappiness and slight dip in production, Monroe’s agent, David Falk, is still going to ask for a max contract, according to Dave Pemberton of The Oakland Press.

"Monroe’s agent David Falk is likely going to ask for a max contract, which will be somewhere in the neighborhood of four years and $60 million.Falk is most famous for being the agent of Michael Jordan and is a master negotiator. Two years ago, Falk was able to convince Portland to sign restricted free agent Roy Hibbert to a four-year, $58 million deal after the Pacers didn’t offer what he wanted. Indiana matched, but the key is Falk got the number he wanted for his client.Expect Falk to do something similar with Monroe. If the Pistons don’t offer the money he wants, then he will try find someone who will."

Of course, Monroe is a restricted free agent so if he signs elsewhere, the Pistons can match the offer and retain him.

Monroe averaged 15.2 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.1 steals per game last season.