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2016 NBA Trade Deadline: 10 Players Teams Should Absolutely Avoid

By Gerald Bourguet

Nov 1, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside (21) during the second half against the Houston Rockets at American Airlines Arena. The Heat won 109-89. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 1, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside (21) during the second half against the Houston Rockets at American Airlines Arena. The Heat won 109-89. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
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NBA Trade Deadline
Jan 26, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks center Greg Monroe (15) during the game against the Orlando Magic at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Milwaukee won 107-100. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Greg Monroe

Greg Monroe is not a bad basketball player. Averaging 16.7 points, 9.7 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game in a career year, Moose clearly brings solid value as a post scorer and passer from the elbows, and he’s only 25 years old.

But it’s no coincidence that the Milwaukee Bucks‘ defense has plummeted from second in defensive rating last year to 23rd this season (by nearly seven points per 100 possessions). The Bucks are 5.5 games away from a bottom-rung playoff spot, and have completely failed to meet expectations after a feel-good 41-41 season last year.

The Bucks have continued to insist that Moose isn’t on the block, but the front office has to be wondering if they made the right decisions over the last year by trading away Brandon Knight at the deadline and signing Monroe to a three-year, $50 million deal over the summer.

With Monroe being the most flat-footed defensive sieve among starting centers, who would be interested if Milwaukee wanted to bail in year one of the Moose era? He’d only be on the books for one guaranteed season (with a player option for 2017-18), but only a select few teams would A) be interested in a 16-10 guy and B) be able to cover for his obvious defensive shortcomings.

Next: No. 1