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NBA Rumors: Greg Monroe to New York Knicks a done deal?

By Patrick Schmidt

Apr 8, 2015; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Detroit Pistons forward Greg Monroe (10) talks to forward Anthony Tolliver (43) during the third quarter against the Boston Celtics at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Celtics beat the Pistons 113-103. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 8, 2015; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Detroit Pistons forward Greg Monroe (10) talks to forward Anthony Tolliver (43) during the third quarter against the Boston Celtics at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Celtics beat the Pistons 113-103. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /
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Greg Monroe to the New York Knicks this offseason is being called a ‘done deal’ and could get a max deal.

The New York Knicks have the worst record in the NBA and have a big offseason on tap as Phil Jackson looks to upgrade the roster enough to compete for a playoff spot next season.

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One player who would represent a significant upgrade for the roster devoid of talent is Detroit Pistons power forward Greg Monroe who will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason.

According to the New York Daily News‘ Frank Isola, the Knicks signing Monroe is already being called as close to a done deal as possible by one league executive.

How can something be a done deal unless there was tampering involved?

Isola points out the not uncommon scenario where representatives from the Knicks and Monroe have expressed a mutual interest when teams can begin contacting free agents on July 1, then the Knicks and Monroe will be officially free to begin talking contract terms.

For Jackson, that should be a simple negotiation considering Monroe’s agent is David Falk who represented Michael Jordan when the two were winning championships with the Chicago Bulls. Isola writes that Falk is seeking a max deal for Monroe and the Knicks are inclined to give it to him.

So how would he fit with the Knicks who are tied with the Minnesota Timberwolves for the league’s worst record at 16-64?

He’s be a perfect fit considering the Knicks don’t have a power forward or center on the roster averaging more than the 6.2 rebounding average of Lou Amundson who is also a free agent at the end of the season. With the parting of Amar’e Stoudemire, the Knicks have no offense in the low-post and lack a defensive and rebounding presence that Monroe brings to the court.

The 6-11 Monroe would be a nice fit in the triangle offense and is averaging a career-high 16.1 points and 10.5 rebounds per game with the improving Pistons. Those averages would make him the second-leading scorer behind the injured Carmelo Anthony and lead the team in rebounding by more than four per game.

If the Knicks win the NBA Draft lottery and get the No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft they will be in position to bolster the front court even more with Karl-Anthony Towns and Jahlil Okafor the top two players in the draft. So even if the Knicks get a top-two pick they are guaranteed getting a potential All-Star center you can build a team around.

Adding Monroe and Okafor/Towns and getting a healthy Anthony back in 2015 automatically makes the Knicks a team capable of winning 40 games, which would be good enough for the No. 6 seed in this year’s Eastern Conference.

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