Fansided

NBA trade rumors: 5 trade destinations for Greg Monroe

By John Buhler

Dec 4, 2015; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks center Greg Monroe (15) reacts after a call during the first quarter against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 4, 2015; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks center Greg Monroe (15) reacts after a call during the first quarter against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /
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November 26, 2012; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Portland Trail Blazers shooting guard Wesley Matthews (2) shot is blocked by Detroit Pistons center Greg Monroe (10) in the first quarter at The Palace. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
November 26, 2012; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Portland Trail Blazers shooting guard Wesley Matthews (2) shot is blocked by Detroit Pistons center Greg Monroe (10) in the first quarter at The Palace. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /

If there is one team that is on the precipice of going from good to great in 2016-17, it’s the Portland Trail Blazers. After losing four of five starters from the 2014-15 team to 2015 NBA free agency, Portland proved to be the most pleasant surprise of the 2015-16 NBA season.

The Trail Blazers earned the No. 5 seed in the strong upper tier of the Western Conference, advanced to the Conference Semifinals to face the Golden State Warriors, and actually stifled Golden State a bit with their elite back court tandem of point guard Damian Lillard and shooting guard C.J. McCollum.

However, the biggest criticism of the Trail Blazers is that their front court still remains inadequate to challenge teams like the Warriors, the Thunder, the Los Angeles Clippers, and the Spurs for bragging rights in the Western Conference. Do expect Portland to address front court discrepancies this offseason.

Portland could trade McCollum to the Bucks for Monroe straight up, but everybody in Rip City would hate Trail Blazers general manager Neil Olshey with a fiery passion. If the Trail Blazers do want to upgrade their front court, Monroe could prove to be a good player in a pick-and-roll partnership with Lillard at the point.

Lillard has emerged as a top 10 player in the league and with the right supporting cast could conceivably bring an NBA Championship to the Pacific Northwest in a few years time. Monroe wouldn’t be the player that LaMarcus Aldridge had been for the Trail Blazers for the first nine years of his NBA career, but could aid in Lillard’s ascendance to superstar as the Portland point guard.

Next: 2. Houston Rockets.

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