New York Knicks: Is Greg Monroe The Solution?

The frenzy that is also known as the NBA free agency period is still a few weeks out, but it’s never too soon to evaluate possible destinations for this summer’s crop of players. One player from that group of particular interest to the New York Knicks is Greg Monroe, the 6’11”, 250-pound Detroit Pistons forward/center.

New York has long been linked as a possible destination for Monroe, even while he was anchoring the paint for a middling Detroit Pistons team last season. With averages of nearly 16 points and 10 rebounds per game, Monroe is certainly someone that will help improve the Knicks’ putrid interior game.

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Monroe had been a major centerpiece of the Pistons’ offense since they selected him seventh overall in the 2010 NBA Draft. But with the Pistons acquiring Ersan Ilyasova to team up with Andre Drummond, he has become even more expendable. His pending free agency and an eventual Piston departure seems almost inevitable given his fuzzy contract situation.

As a restricted free agent last summer, Monroe decided not to sign an offer sheet with any other team or a multiyear extension with the Pistons. This uncommon route set Monroe up to become an unrestricted free agent come Jul. 1, where he will reportedly seek the long term deal he covets – presumably from another team.

As recently as December, the Pistons were reportedly fielding offers for Monroe. The Knicks’ lack of assets made any in-season trade implausible. It also made more sense for the Knicks to take their shot at Monroe by signing him outright in the offseason.

At this point, it’s hard to assume Monroe will drastically change the Knicks landscape, as there are just too many holes and needs to fill. While the Knicks are certainly in no position of being picky with who they can sign, it will nonetheless be crucial that they structure contracts in ways that make economic sense to the long-term health of the team.

The Knicks will have ample cap room (nearly $30 million) this summer to sign Monroe while still having enough left to fill out other needs. While Knicks fans will shudder from paranoia, the team has built up a dubious record of passing out atrocious contracts that have essentially stifled the building process of the team.

Monroe will undoubtedly be a welcome sight at the Garden. He’s able to anchor a front line that was routinely exposed by opposing guards. And although Monroe is not typically known as a rim protector, Knicks fans will enjoy his offensive post presence and rebounding.

Despite speculation the Knicks are in the driver’s seat, they could see competition for Monroe from the Boston Celtics. If past free agencies are any indication, there will be an initial holding pattern until the bigger dominoes fall first. If the Knicks are unable to land any free agents from the top tier, they could move quickly on Monroe.

One wrinkle in the Monroe to New York saga will rest on what the organization decides to do with the fourth pick in the draft on Jun. 25. Reports indicate Willie Cauley-Stein is a definite consideration at that spot. Should the Knicks go that route, they would essentially fill the need for an elite defensive center that is a premier rebounder capable of wiping out attempts at the rim.

The Knicks could experiment with a starting front line of Monroe at power forward, and Cauley-Stein at center (or vice-versa). If they decide to go Justise Winslow on draft night, they could move Carmelo Anthony to power forward, leaving Winslow to defend the wing at the small forward position, while Monroe anchors center.

There are clearly a lot of options at the Knicks’ disposal, and the situation will remain fluid until a decision is made with the fourth overall pick. One decision that should be pretty clear is making a run at Greg Monroe this summer.

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