Greg Monroe has no “great interest” in returning to the Detroit Pistons, perhaps fueling some of the rumors the team is engaging in ongoing sign-and-trade discussions with at least the Atlanta Hawks for the free-agent big man.
According to Yahoo Sports., the restricted free agent forward who has averaged 16 points and 10 rebounds over his last two seasons in the Motor City seemingly has tired of all the constant changes in Detroit and appears to be simply convinced it may be best for him to move on. Since the start of the 2014 season, Monroe has already played for two different coaches and since the end of the season Stan Van Gundy has taken over as both coach and president of basketball operations for the floundering franchise.
With Monroe’s mind apparently already made up, word around the league is the Pistons are now actively exploring sign-and-trade trade possibilities for the fourth-year veteran. Such an arrangement would at least allow Detroit to walk away with some form of compensation for Monroe, who is rumored to be seeking a max contract extension.
The Pistons are also rumored to have discussed possibilities with the Phoenix Suns, though exactly what the Suns might be willing to offer remains a mystery. The Portland Trailblazers could be yet another possibility.
The No. 7 pick in the 2011 draft out of Georgetown, Monroe has averaged nearly a double-double in each of his last three seasons and has added an average of a block a game over his career.
After a season where their once much ballyhooed frontline of Monroe, Andre Drummond and Josh Smith struggled mightily to play together, the Pistons appear intent on making some sort of major change within their frontcourt. Smith is also rumored to be on the trading block after the 10-year veteran averaged his fewest points (16.4) and rebounds (6.8) in four full seasons.
