Many have made Greg Monroe the scapegoat for the Bucks’ regression during the 2015/16 season, with the team going from 41 wins the previous year to just 33. Milwaukee has reportedly been actively seeking to deal the big man this offseason, with the general consensus around the league being that Monroe wouldn’t still be a member of the Bucks when training camp begins next week, Gery Woelfel of The Journal Times notes. According to league sources, Milwaukee was willing to accept below market value in order to find a taker for Monroe and his $17,145,838 salary for this season, Woelfel adds.
Despite all the rumors, Monroe’s agent, David Falk, says neither he nor his client are surprised the player is still a member of the Bucks, the scribe relays. “There’s been a lot of speculation, but that’s part and parcel for the NBA,’’ Falk said. “You always have rumors and one percent of them come true. I’ve become a cynic to rumors.’’ Falk added that he’s been in constant contact with Bucks officials about Monroe’s situation and that the team’s owners “have been amazingly supportive of Greg.’’
The Bucks have reportedly spoken to the Pelicans about Monroe this summer, according to a July report from ESPN’s Zach Lowe. “I think [the Bucks] got closer than maybe has been reported with New Orleans during either the draft or free agency,” Lowe had said during an episode of The Lowe Post podcast (54:25 mark for the relevant portion). “Monroe’s a New Orleans native,” ESPN’s Marc Stein added. “I think that’s where he wants to end up.” Neither Lowe nor Stein suggested that a deal between the Pelicans and Bucks was necessarily in the works, but Stein expected the big man to eventually be moved. It should be noted that those two clubs also discussed Monroe prior to last season’s trade deadline.
The agent also dismissed the speculation that he or Monroe have lobbied to get the big man out of Milwaukee, Woelfel notes. “Greg is a very mature guy, a very professional guy,’’ Falk said. “He has never asked to be traded on any team.’’ Falk also told the scribe that he doesn’t see Monroe being traded in the near future. “Greg expects to be in training camp with the Bucks,’’ Falk told Woelfel. “He’s looking to have a great season for the Bucks. If anything changes, we’ll deal with it at that time.’’
Falk acknowledged that things didn’t go smoothly for Monroe or the Bucks last season, but noted that all parties are on the same page, Woelfel writes. “He [Monroe] wants to accomplish what they didn’t accomplish this year: making the playoffs,’’ Falk said. “We are trying to make this work. Whether it will happen, I don’t know. But we’re going to try.’’ In 79 appearances for the Bucks last season, Monroe averaged 15.3 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 29.3 minutes per outing. His shooting line was .522/.000/.740.
He is a solid offensive player and like his agent said he has been nothing but professional and a pleasure to have on the Bucks. That being said he absolutely has to play with a defensive player at the other big. Parker is a decent defender but he’s not a rim protector. Playing with Anthony Davis would be perfect for him. Nerlins Noel is another good fit for him. Maybe the Knicks next to porzingus. Plummee fits our team perfectly and hopefully he is starting this year. Defense, rebounding and ability to pick and role with two of the best pick and role guys in the league not to mention dele who will be lobbing dunks to him left and right