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Two years ago, the Milwaukee Bucks backed into the playoffs with a young roster full of long, athletic defenders that showed promise for the future.

Last summer, they signed Greg Monroe to a surprise contract, the young center choosing Jason Kidd and the Bucks over much larger and more glamorous markets. Then last season the Bucks struggled — certainly not completely because of Monroe, there were injuries and other issues that set the Bucks back, but Monroe and Jabari Parker did not form what felt like the front line of the future in Milwaukee.

One year in, the Bucks are apparently looking to move on, according to Michael Scotto of the Associated Press.

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Michael Scotto @MikeAScotto
Sources: Bucks are shopping Greg Monroe hard. He's owed $17.1 million next season and has a $17.8 million player option for 2017-18 season.
12:21 AM - 21 Jun 2016
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Monroe had some people his first season with the Bucks was an outright disaster, but those people expected him to be something he’s not — Monroe was last season exactly who has been for several seasons now. He is a strong offensive player in the post who will get a team 15 points and 9-10 rebounds a night and do it efficiently — 56.2 true shooting percentage and a 21.8 PER last season. He’s a good passer for a center. He’s not terribly athletic, which hurts his defense, especially if you can pull him away from the paint.

Monroe is a good basketball player, the problem is more fit in Milwaukee than anything else. He’s not going to space the floor on offense, he’s going to be near the paint and his defender can help protect the rim. He’s not going to lock down guys defensively. That didn’t fit with the flow the Bucks had created a year before.

I get why they are trying to move him, but he would need to go to a team with a strong rim-protecting four who can also space the floor. You need a point guard who can get him the rock. How many teams are looking for a traditional center during a small-ball era, and how much would any team give up to get him? The Bucks may not find him easy to move.

http://nba.nbcsports.com/2016/06/20/report-milwaukee-shopping-gregg-monroe-around-hard/?ocid=Yahoo&partner=ya5nbcs&yptr=yahoo

OKC or New Orleans could be fits. Pellies makes sense as they could rid themselves of Asik. OKC could trade Kanter. Don't know if Bucks would be interested in either though. Just make Moose so miserable that he opts out after this season rather than taking on those two long term contracts.

People were saying the Piston fans were haters that thought he wouldn't fit. He should have went to New York or a no defense team like Portland.

Another big guy who can score and rebound but can't play D and doesn't help teams win. See Al Jefferson, Enes Kanter, etc.

eh - the falloff was predictable, but not really Monroe's "fault". MCW can't shoot. Giannis and Parker currently can't shoot. Monroe can't shoot. If you are going to play a traditional center, you need some guys to space the floor.

I remember him saying he was hurt that SVG, through negotiations or lack there of, said we can't use you here. It may have been to Zach Lowe but he whined about Detroit.

Now look at him. Yet another place that doesn't want him and no longer wants to hear And-1!! as he misses a bunny. He's an overqualified backup C.

If Diamond Stone is a 2nd round pick in this NBA.... Bucks are never going to find a good deal for Monroe.

I'd take him back if Milwaukee attached Middleton as a filler.

No chance he comes back here... He needs to play with another big who can both protect the paint and shoot from outside. There are maybe 4 or 5 in the NBA that he would pair well with as a starting big.... Would be great off the bench for some teams going against backup bigs but makes too much to be a 20 MPG backup.

NYK, POR, and maybe even NOLA would be a decent fit for him.

Give monroe a jump shot and he's essentially a lighter friendlier version of Z. RAndolph

Blkbrd671 wrote:Give monroe a jump shot and he's essentially a lighter friendlier version of Z. RAndolph

Without being a goon who put so much respect on him against other players, and that big fat ass who gives him enormous advantages in the post.

How long did we as Pistons fans wait on Monroe to develop a jumpshot before giving up?

Snakebites wrote:How long did we as Pistons fans wait on Monroe to develop a jumpshot before giving up?

You know, I think it was right up until he signed his qualifying offer.

Snakebites wrote:How long did we as Pistons fans wait on Monroe to develop a jumpshot before giving up?

Longer than we should've. Really strange to see a player make such a big improvement from their rookie to sophomore year (garbage man to featured player in the offense) and then remain the exact same player with zero additions to their game afterwards, but thats Monroe for you I guess.

I remember all the crap Buck fans talked starting the season and just didn't listen to so many Piston fans.

The whole league can suck it as far as I'm concerned with how much they thought the Pistons would miss Moose. Monroe just has no place in today's league. He will never be a key piece as you are always hiding him on defense.

Snakebites wrote:How long did we as Pistons fans wait on Monroe to develop a jumpshot before giving up?

Today minus Day he was drafted equals????

bout that long

Snakebites wrote:How long did we as Pistons fans wait on Monroe to develop a jumpshot before giving up?

We absolutely NEEDED him to develop that part of his game and he just wouldn't (or couldn't) do it. He drove me nuts, a reliable jumper is the only thing keeping him from be a 20/10 bigman, but I guess he's content averaging 15/9 every year. I remember the "Josh Smith/Greg Monroe wars" and I was firmly on the "Get them both out of here" side. That was such a frustrating time.

I do believe if Milwaukee gets rid of Greg, they become an immediate threat to make the playoffs. Jason Kidd got that team to overperform with a whole lot less, but it's hard to win anything when your lazy starting center's idea of rim protection is to move out of the way of the drivers and slashers. They need to go back to being that scrappy team they were a couple seasons ago.

zeebneeb wrote:I remember all the crap Buck fans talked starting the season and just didn't listen to so many Piston fans.

The whole league can suck it as far as I'm concerned with how much they thought the Pistons would miss Moose. Monroe just has no place in today's league. He will never be a key piece as you are always hiding him on defense.

Defense could be forgiven if he could spread the floor on offense. Trouble is with him, you need a big alongside him who can space the offense AND cover for him on defense. And there's just not a lot of bigs that can do that.

Monroe basically needs to play with a guy like Anthony Davis. That's the perfect match with him. The next would probably be Ibaka. See the where I'm getting at? Players that can do the two things he can't do, shoot and defend/block. He can be dangerous inside if you give him space. I don't think he was smart when he signed with the Bucks. Just went for money basically in my opinion. Now he's stuck trying to find the right place and the front office doesn't care to send him wherever they can get the best return. Unfortunately shooting and shot blocking big men are very rare in this league and highly sought after. I think Dumars will get hired as the Pelicans GM this offseason but the problem with that is the relationship between them. I think it can happen though. Monroe is actually a good offensive rebounder and Davis can light it up from outside the paint. It's a perfect fit.