RUMOR: Greg Monroe wants out of Milwaukee and traded to New Orleans

[Hey Yo]

By Kurt Helin Jul 30, 2016, 4:30 PM EDT

"If you’re going to bet on an NBA player likely to be moved before the start of the NBA season — or at least by the deadline — Bucks’ big man Greg Monroe would be a good choice. It’s no secret he is on the trade block, the Bucks just aren’t finding a team making an offering to their liking.

What would Monroe like?

He probably wants to end up in New Orleans, ESPN’s Marc Stein said on the Lowe Post podcast.

Which makes a ton of sense — he was born in New Orleans, he wants to go home. The two sides have talked about a deal multiple times in the past, but nothing got done.

The problem is the Bucks are only getting rock-bottom offers for Monroe. On the upside, he’s an efficient offensive NBA big who got the Bucks 15.3 points and 8.8 rebounds a game last season. However, he’s a defensive liability who does not protect the rim, plus he’s a $17 million rental next season (he can and likely will opt out in the summer of 2017). Even teams that could use a scoring big are not going to give up much quality in a trade for a rental like Monroe.

The Pelicans already have Omer Asik and Alexis Ajinca as traditional fives, and they should play Anthony Davis there more anyway. Roster wise, the Pelicans would need to make some other moves for this deal to make sense.

But eventually, the Bucks will find an offer they are willing to take."

http://nba.nbcsports.com/2016/07/30/...medium=twitter

[RedBlackAttack]

I remember last year when a lot of people were calling Monroe's short-term contract with the Bucks a great get.

Here's the problem... his game doesn't really fit in the modern NBA. He's a high usage bigman who likes to isolate on the block and score. He's a decent rebounder and that's the extent of his game.

He's a minus defender who can't pass and can't stretch the floor.

The other problem is, it doesn't seem as though he has improved as a player since his second year... in fact, he may have regressed. Sure, he'll get you 15 points on 12 shots and grab 7-9 rebounds a night just because he plays so close to the basket, but his impact on today's game is minimal.

And he is on a freaking $17 million contract. Even as an expirer no one wants anything to do with that.



I feel like there is more to his story than even all that, though, because being on the last year of your contract and only just having turned 26 while able to get close to 15 and a double-double every night... you'd think the Bucks could get something decent for him. There are a lot of gullible GMs out there who think their organization can be the one to turn a guy around.

But with Monroe? Nothing. The Bucks aren't garnering any real interest. I'm thinking maybe he has some personal problems.

[Im Still Ballin]

Monroe's suited to an off the bench player type on a winning team

Someone who can be subbed in and score, from the big position no less

Like David Lee a couple years ago... Or a much better Mo Speights

[Bankaii]

They still wouldn't make any noise but him and a healthy AD in this weaker West should make the playoffs.

[toxicxr6]

The two teams who have approached the Bucks about him at his stage are the Knicks and Spurs...

[RedBlackAttack]

Monroe's suited to an off the bench player type on a winning team

Someone who can be subbed in and score, from the big position no less

Like David Lee a couple years ago... Or a much better Mo Speights

I don't think he's much better than Mo Speights, if at all. I mean, he would have been much better 15 years ago, but things have changed.

The thing that makes Speights valuable in today's league is that he's a big guy who can step out on the perimeter and knock down long mid-range shots with pretty great consistency and go beyond the three-point line and be efficient. Speights was assisted on over 80% of his makes last year, meaning he can be deadly as a spot-up shooter.

That stretches a defense, pulls bigs out of the lane and puts more pressure on a scheme.

Monroe takes 80+% of his shots within 10-feet and most of those are from really in close. He does nothing to spread out a defense and, if you're not giving him the ball inside to isolate or back-down his man, he's of little use to an offense. He was assisted on about 57% of his makes in 2016... that isn't horrible and he can knock down an open shot from 5-10 feet, but nothing like Speights when it comes to making open spot-up jumpers.

I'm not even sure he's that much better of a rebounder than Speights despite what the numbers say. Monroe just plays closer to the basket so naturally he's going to snag 5-12 per game.

Neither guy has much impact defensively.

Monroe's game requires a really unique fit. He basically has to play alongside a big man whose game can gravitate away from the basket... otherwise, it's going to be bumper cars in the lane.

That would be OK if he was DeAndre Jordan defensively, who alters shots around the basket... or a Tristan Thompson who can guard 1-5. But, Monroe is not a good defender. So, again, you have to pair him with a good defensive big to hide his weaknesses.

[Jasper]

Issue is defense.

Most if not all NBA teams don't want a big camped at the high post... they have to rotate to the hoop and rebound, as well as defend.
he is not a quick footed player which compounds the issue.

I did not like the signing , and they let ZAZA go, which was horrible.

Bucks have Plumlee, he knows how to play weak side as well as straight up defense.
He is not as fast as Adams , but he is solid, for the Bucks.

[Im Still Ballin]

I don't think he's much better than Mo Speights, if at all. I mean, he would have been much better 15 years ago, but things have changed.

The thing that makes Speights valuable in today's league is that he's a big guy who can step out on the perimeter and knock down long mid-range shots with pretty great consistency and go beyond the three-point line and be efficient. Speights was assisted on over 80% of his makes last year, meaning he can be deadly as a spot-up shooter.

That stretches a defense, pulls bigs out of the lane and puts more pressure on a scheme.

Monroe takes 80+% of his shots within 10-feet and most of those are from really in close. He does nothing to spread out a defense and, if you're not giving him the ball inside to isolate or back-down his man, he's of little use to an offense. He was assisted on about 57% of his makes in 2016... that isn't horrible and he can knock down an open shot from 5-10 feet, but nothing like Speights when it comes to knocking down open jumpers.

I'm not even sure he's that much better of a rebounder than Speights despite what the numbers say. Monroe just plays closer to the basket so naturally he's going to snag 5-12 per game.

Neither guy has much impact defensively.

Monroe's game requires a really unique fit. He basically has to play alongside a big man whose game can gravitate away from the basket... otherwise, it's going to be bumper cars in the lane.

That would be OK if he was DeAndre Jordan defensively, who alters shots around the basket... or a Tristan Thompson who can guard 1-5. But, Monroe is not a good defender. So, again, you have to pair him with a good defensive big to hide his weaknesses.

Can't argue with any of this

[LilEddyCurry]

Why did he even sign with The Bucks?

[Milbuck]

Dude is trash, basically a slower, chubby Enes Kanter without the crazy rebounding motor. Bucks have been trying to trade him for a long time now, teams just aren't giving up anything of real value for him and the Bucks aren't going to dump him for nothing. Hopefully they do. Guarantee the Bucks are 10-15 games better next year without him.

[MintBerryCrunch]

He should come to Cleveland.

[Xover]

I'm all for progression in sports but man it's a sad day when a classic big man is more of a liability in today's league.

[iamgine]

Monroe's game requires a really unique fit. He basically has to play alongside a big man whose game can gravitate away from the basket... otherwise, it's going to be bumper cars in the lane.

That would be OK if he was DeAndre Jordan defensively, who alters shots around the basket... or a Tristan Thompson who can guard 1-5. But, Monroe is not a good defender. So, again, you have to pair him with a good defensive big to hide his weaknesses.

This sounds like Serge Ibaka.