The Detroit Pistons may look at trade deals with Greg Monroe and Brandon Jennings at the NBA trade deadline and this comes as the Pistons are having a very tough season and teams like the LA Lakers, Chicago Bulls, Brooklyn Nets, Clippers and NY Knicks could be interested in making trades at the deadline ahead of free agency in 2015.
The Lakers reportedly have called the Pistons about both players already and the two sides discussed a deal as early as December ahead of the trading deadline. The Lakers have long been interested in adding a new point guard and they also plan on targeting Monroe in free agency in 2015. The Knicks are also interested in Monroe, but they are looking to make trades now to get rid of players to set up for free agency in the summer.
According to Pro Basketball Talk, ESPN.com reports that the Lakers have been active about looking for potential deals this year, as they called in on Rajon Rondo, Dion Waiters and Iman Shumpert before those moves happened. The Lakers wanted to pry Rajon Rondo from the Celtics, but Boston ended up trading with the Dallas Mavericks instead. Kobe Bryant was reportedly "disappointed" that the Lakers did not end up with rondo, but they made a solid offer with draft picks, Steve Nash and Jordan Hill in the package.
Although Rondo was traded to the Mavericks, he is not likely to sign an extension and that could give the Lakers another chance to woo him this summer. Rondo said that Dallas will have the edge after making the trade with Boston, but he has not ruled out other teams, which may also include the Knicks. The Knicks, Lakers and Rockets will have some similar targets in free agency, as all three have been connected to rondo as well as Goran Dragic in the past. If Rondo stays in Dallas, Dragic becomes the top point guard on the market and the teams could get fierce in their pursuit of him.
The Indiana Pacers and Pistons spoke over the summer about a trade with Monroe and Roy Hibbert, but those talks died down after the Paul George injury. Hibbert could remain a target at the deadline, but the Pistons are not going to be buyers, as they having a losing season. Monroe seems content to wait things out until free agency, but it's likely he would want to be in a winning situation over what's going on in Detroit. Stan Van Gundy will need time to turn this around and if Monroe is looking to get out, he could be more open to a trade at the deadline.
Jennings is heading towards the end of his contract and Van Gundy could look at trading him while his value is high. The Knicks are likely out since they want to try and sign Rajon Rondo or Goran Dragic next summer, while the Rockets could be a fit at least for the rest of this season. The Rockets also looked into a Rondo trade before he was moved to the Mavericks and after missing out on him they could look at Deron Williams or Jennings.
