Greg Monroe will be with the Detroit Pistons this season on a one year deal after declining their long term contract offer and if he hits the free agent market next season, the Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, Washington Wizards and Indiana Pacers all could be interested in signing him and a new report also says his current team will be in the mix in the summer of 2015.
According to Pro Basketball Talk, Monroe is sticking with the Pistons for now on a one year deal after not being able to come to a long term agreement and while he will be a free agent in 2015, he reportedly would consider signing back with the Pistons. The Detroit Free Press reports that Monroe feels that he can make it to next summer healthy and ready to sign a deal as an unrestricted free agent, which will net him more money than as a restricted player.
Monroe is young and very talented and there are a number of reasons why he did not come to a long term agreement with the Pistons this summer. ESPN.com reported earlier in the summer that Monroe would consider signing a long term deal down the line, but that he was more likely to take the one year deal. The team brought in Stan Van Gundy to run things and while he has the chance to turn it around, Monroe has been with the Pistons in tough times and isn't sure he wants to be there long term. The team also has josh Smith and while they tried to trade him to the Kings, so far no deal has gone down.
The Lakers and the Knicks are two teams that will be interested since they have so much money to spend next summer, while the Wizards may try and get him to come back where he played in college. Monroe will be one of the top free agents next summer if he hits the market.
The Pistons reportedly offered a five-year, $60 million deal to Monroe, but he says that he did not get that offer from the team. Signing the one year deal would keep him from getting traded by the Pistons, but he could make a deal happen with his approval. Monroe likely would have to agree on signing an extension with whoever trades for him, but either way, the Pistons likely will at least listen to deals if they know he is going to leave as a free agent.
There are plenty of teams that would go after Monroe if he hit the market and both the Lakers and Knicks will have the money to compete for his services. Monroe would be one of the top players on the market if he makes it and that is partially due to his age. This season he had a strong year and he did not get much interest as a restricted free agent because the Pistons likely were going to match the offer. Monroe did not want to get an offer sheet because of that and now the one year deal is likely what will happen.
