Greg Monroe’s departure from Detroit is all but set in stone, and it has been for quite some time. On Sunday, Monroe said what everyone already knew: He wants out.
From Darrell Williams of The Advocate:
I’m looking to be with a team that’s ready to win,” said Monroe during a timeout at his youth basketball clinic Saturday morning at the Delgado Community College gymnasium. “Hopefully it will be a team where I’m the missing piece…
Stan had smaller teams in Orlando (Magic) years ago,” Monroe said. “Dre is like Dwight Howard. So Stan wants to put good players around him. The team has different plans, and I respect that. I don’t want to be anywhere I’m not wanted.
A comparison to Orlando is probably accurate. Although Andre Drummond isn’t as good as Dwight Howard, he’s definitely a similar type of player. In Orlando, Van Gundy surrounded Howard with shooters, so that Dwight could have room in the paint to work, or kick it out if the opposing team collapsed on him. The Pistons have some pretty good shooters already, and are reportedly trying to add another superb shooter in Danny Green. The Pistons also recently traded for stretch 4 Ersan Ilyasova, who will likely replace Monroe in the rotation. If Detroit manages to acquire Danny Green, it really will basically be the 2010 Magic all over again: Drummond is Dwight, Green is JJ Redick, and Ilyasova is Ryan Anderson.
As for Monroe, he will have plenty of suitors in free agency. Although he’s a defensive liability, his low post offense is something that many teams desire. The Celtics and the Knicks have already been linked to Monroe. While the Knicks have been said to be a “sure thing” for Monroe, the Knicks also may sign David West, whose presence on the team would be very redundant with Monroe’s.
