Greg Monroe Doesn’t Seem Interested In Pursuing A Trade
As the foggy Detroit saga keeps unfolding, things are still uncertain. Greg Monroe, who signed his qualifying offer to stay with the Pistons this season, was reported to be interested in being traded in a Sporting News report this week stating that Detroit was looking for a bidder willing to give up a first-round pick in exchange for Monroe.
Monroe will become an unrestricted free agent next summer, and he has the right to veto any trade presented to him. But at this point in time, he doesn’t come off as interested in pursuing a trade, despite the reports and also the state of the team.
From Vincent Goodwill Jr. of The Detroit News:
At this point, it’s definitely annoying because we’re trying to turn things around right here, right now. And I have to answer for something I have absolutely nothing to do with. It is annoying.
“There would be so much to go into that decision. It’s something I haven’t even … I don’t know dates, I haven’t been thinking about it,” Monroe said. “I’ve just been thinking about basketball. If they feel the need to come to me, I would have to have the discussion but that discussion would have to be initiated by them, not by me.”
“Where he took it was completely false. And it’s totally ridiculous I have to answer questions like this.”
Trying to turn things around is the right idea, but it’s hard to imagine Stan Van Gundy pulling that off without a trade involving the likes of Monroe. It’s completely possible that Monroe is willing to drag out negotiations and stick with Detroit in hopes of possibly signing a maximum, long-term deal. It’s possible he’s just looking to say the right thing as it plays out in the meantime.
Stan Van Gundy’s thoughts, via Goodwill:
“I don’t know where that stuff comes from,” Van Gundy said. “We haven’t talked to anybody about trading Greg Monroe. We know there are teams with interest but that’s it.”
Monroe is the more skilled of the Pistons forwards, which makes him the most valuable. The same teams that are interested now are likely to be interested come free agency in the summer, where some teams will certainly look to throw decent money Monroe’s way. Completing a viable trade sooner than later might be the safest and most lucrative way for Van Gundy to make an attempt at rebranding this franchise.
