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NBA Trade Rumors: Best Landing Spots for Greg Monroe

By Maxwell Ogden

Dec 26, 2015; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks center Greg Monroe (15) drives for the basket during the first quarter against the Toronto Raptors at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 26, 2015; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks center Greg Monroe (15) drives for the basket during the first quarter against the Toronto Raptors at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports /
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Half a season into his tenure with the Milwaukee Bucks, Greg Monroe is already generating trade interest from around the NBA.

Dec 26, 2015; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks center Greg Monroe (15) drives for the basket during the first quarter against the Toronto Raptors at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 26, 2015; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks center Greg Monroe (15) drives for the basket during the first quarter against the Toronto Raptors at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports /

The Milwaukee Bucks entered the 2015-16 NBA regular season with the hype of a team that was ready to make, “The leap.” Fresh off of a 41-41 season in 2014-15, Milwaukee signed big-name free agent Greg Monroe and returned injured forward Jabari Parker.

On paper, the Bucks had the look of a breakout contender.

Underachievement was always a possibility, but no one expected the Bucks to open the season as poorly as they have. Milwaukee is 18-25 through 43 games, and that has many pondering whether or not moves will be made.

According to Zach Lowe of ESPN, the Bucks haven’t made Monroe available on the trade market—yet.

"The Bucks aren’t ready to cut bait on the Monroe-Parker-Antetokounmpo trio yet, but Monroe will draw interest at the trade deadline if they put him out there. They haven’t yet, league sources say."

It looked good on paper, but it hasn’t translated well to the court.

The Bucks have built an interior that includes two offensive-minded big men without much regard for defensive consistency: Monroe and Jabari Parker. Giannis Antetokounmpo and John Henson are standout defenders, but neither spend enough time down low to truly solidify the defensive interior.

Monroe has played exceptionally well individually, but not well enough to lead Milwaukee out of its current predicament.

Through 40 appearances, Monroe is averaging 15.7 points, 9.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.1 steals on 50.9 percent shooting from the field. He’s limited to just 30.4 minutes of action per game, but still manages to rank No. 18 in the NBA in Player Efficiency Rating.

The question is, where might Monroe go if—or more likely, when—the Bucks make him available?

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