Detroit Pistons news: Greg Monroe has no beef with Josh Smith

For reasons nobody is willing to admit, Greg Monroe refused to sign a long-term contract with the Detroit Pistons during the offseason. Instead, the former Georgetown product opted to sign a one-year qualifying offer which will allow him to become an unrestricted free agent at season end.

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While rumors swirled as to why Monroe wouldn’t commit to the Detroit Pistons, noise emerged suggesting that he was frustrated with Josh Smith and wanted the big man traded. Not long after rumors of a Josh Smith trade involving the Sacramento Kings popped up though nothing ever manifested.

Still, Greg Monroe says all the talk of him having beef with Josh Smith was not true as he told the Detroit Free Press.

“It wasn’t rumors, it was all lies,” he said of things leaked about him over the summer. “Because I know what really went on, I’m not worried about it. … I know the truth. At the end of the day, I’m focused on getting ready for the season. All that stuff is behind me. I could (not) really care less.”

We’ll likely never know the truth behind the rumors though it’s hard to imagine that Greg Monroe would have been the only person in the Detroit Pistons franchise upset with the play of Josh Smith, so his rumored distaste would have been well warranted.

For what it’s worth, Josh Smith says he’s focusing on returning to the post where he was far more successful with the Atlanta Hawks.

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