Multiple teams interested in signing Greg Monroe
Greg Monroe was bought out by the Phoenix Suns, and teams are starting to lineup to get him.
After news surfaced that he was not in the arena for Wednesday night’s game against the Dallas Mavericks, Greg Monroe was bought out by the Phoenix Suns. After being acquired from the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eric Bledsoe trade, Monroe will be looking for his third team before the All-Star break this season. But ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski immediately reported the likelihood of significant interest league-wide.
The Boston Celtics and New Orleans Pelicans have immediately gone to the top of the list of suitors for Monroe. Boston has an $8.4 million disabled player exception (from Gordon Hayward’s injury) they can use part of, and the Pelicans have a significant void to fill with DeMarcus Cousins (Achilles) out for the season.
Chris Mannix of Yahoo! has passed along an indication of mutual interest between the Pelicans and Monroe. And David Aldridge of TNT has added the San Antonio Spurs and Washington Wizards to what may be an ever-growing list.
There is strong early, mutual interest between the Pelican and Greg Monroe, source tells @YahooSports. Monroe is a New Orleans native and Pels can offer significant playing time with Cousins out.
— Chris Mannix (@SIChrisMannix) February 1, 2018
Add Spurs, Wizards to growing list of playoff teams interested in Greg Monroe post-waivers. Celtics and Pelicans among others.
— David Aldridge (@davidaldridgedc) February 1, 2018
Monroe averaged 11.3 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game over 20 games (14 starts) with the Suns, and overall this season he’s averaging 10.4 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game.
As the NBA has evolved into a perimeter-oriented game, Monroe has become a relic. After averaging at least 15 points and nearly nine rebounds per game for five straight seasons (four with the Detroit Pistons), he became strictly bench player for the Bucks in 2016-17 and set career-lows across the board. A startling lack of production as a shot blocker (0.6 per game for his career) also holds back Monroe’s value.
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But what Monroe does offer as a scorer and rebounder still has value around the league. If he wants as much money as he can get and a chance to win a title, the Celtics will be Monroe’s landing spot. Otherwise, the Pelicans seem to be picking up a bit of steam.