A lot has been made over the Detroit Pistons' unwillingness to fix their current frontcourt problem. The team appears committed to keeping Josh Smith, Greg Monroe and Andre Drummond all on the court despite the statistical proof that it simply is not working out. While numerous teams have inquired about Monroe, the Pistons view him as a long-term option.
The Pistons continue to shoot down every single offer made for Monroe. The young forward is looked at as a potential star of the league. His current expiring contract makes him a trade target for any team needing roster depth to make a run at the playoffs. However, the team is not budging on moving Monroe, convinced he could be with the franchise for many years to come.
According to the Detroit Free Press, the Pistons would prefer to maintain Monroe and Drummond while trading away Smith. Drummond still has two years on his current contract. Monroe could be signed to a large, yet favorable contract extension. It is Smith that appears to be the issue. Due to his large salary cap hit and lack of production, not a single team will take a swing at trying to sign Smith.
Smith is expected to be around for a few more years until his contract comes closer to expiring. Drummond is the better player, so why are the Pistons not considering a trade of Monroe?
The Charlotte Bobcats are one of the many teams showing interest in getting Monroe. The Bobcats appear to be heavy buyers before the trade deadline, negotiating with several teams. According to Basketball Insider, Monroe is on the team's radar despite Charlotte not really needing a player like him. However, they are in search of talent and Monroe is certainly that.
The Bobcats are prepared to offer someone like Ben Gordon who is also on an expiring contract or young talent like Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. It would take a lot to pry Monroe away from Detroit so the Bobcats would likely have to toss in a draft pick to win them over.
The likelihood that Monroe goes anywhere is slim to none. The Bobcats could offer a huge trade package and Detroit will likely not bite. The team is committed to their three big men and will address changes in the offseason.
