The Detroit Pistons may look at a Greg Monroe trade at the deadline this season and teams like the LA Lakers, Chicago Bulls, NY Knicks, Indiana Pacers, Phoenix Suns and Boston Celtics could be interested in making a move, but that likely will not happen if the Pistons opt to trade Josh Smith to the Sacramento Kings, which was a rumored move this summer but it never ended up going down.
Monroe is headed towards free agency and while he has said that he will consider signing back with the Pistons, the team may try and move him before he hits the market. Monroe is signed to a one year qualifying offer, so he can control where he gets traded and if he gets traded, but the two sides may consider a move if the Pistons struggle again this season. According to ESPN.com, Marc Stein reports that the Pistons may look at trading Smith again at the deadline after the failed deal with the Kings and under those circumstances, Monroe would not be traded.
There were reports over the summer that Monroe wanted Smith to be traded and that he would not sign a long term deal unless that happened. Monroe came out to deny those rumors later on, but one thing was clear over the summer: the Pistons were looking to trade Smith. The Pistons and Stan Van Gundy are in a tough spot, as they have Andre Drummond locked up and they want to build around Monroe and Drummond. The hard part is that Monroe is not signed long term, Smith's contract is huge and all three players play in the same space and it's hard for all three to get solid minutes.
Monroe and Drummond are foundational options, while Smith is a scorer and not much else. The team will try and trade him again at the deadline and the Kings could be an option after their interest this summer. The franchise was hoping to add a strong offensive option up front with DeMarcus Cousins and they see Smith as a possibility. Smith has three years and $40.5 million on his contract and that is a lot to move and that is one reason why the Pistons had a hard time trading him.
Monroe has been developing into one of the best young bigs in the game and he averaged 15 points and nine rebounds last season and now is averaging 17 points and 11 rebounds per game this season. Monroe has been healthy through his short career and by signing the one year deal, he is basically betting on himself into next summer. Monroe will have suitors in the Knicks, Lakers and Celtics and those teams could surprise and try to pull off a trade this season, but that is unlikely.
Monroe has had a double-double in four of the five games he has played in this season and he has been one of the most consistent players for the Pistons. The franchise ideally would like to build around Drummond and Monroe for the foreseeable future, but depending on what happens with Smith and how this season goes, Monroe may end up leaving on his own. Joe Dumars is out and now SVG is in for the next stretch and that is what Monroe will be looking at when he makes his decision.
