Milwaukee Bucks: Why Hasn't Greg Monroe Been Traded?

Although it’s very clear he doesn’t fit on the Milwaukee Bucks, Greg Monroe has yet to be traded? Is there a lack of suitors?

The Milwaukee Bucks are in an awkward situation at the moment. They’ve been publicly trying to trade Greg Monroe for the entire summer–and back in February before the NBA trade deadline–and have yet to make a deal.

Speaking of awkward, listen to Michael Carter-Williams address Greg Monroe’s status with the Bucks back at Summer League at around the four minute mark in that video.

"“Uhh, I don’t know, I’m not sure. As far as I know, he’s a member, he’s a part of our team. Yeah, that’s really all I know.”"

Well, that’s a ringing endorsement. He is a member, after all.

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Monroe isn’t a bad player and I’m only teasing MCW, who was put in a difficult situation by getting asked that question and a doubly-difficult one considering how often his name is next to Monroe’s when Bucks trade rumors surface.

Monroe is a bad fit though, especially for the Milwaukee Bucks, who just committed $42 million to three centers for next season. That’s ludicrous money considering none of the three is one of Milwaukee’s best three players.

It seems beyond obvious at this point that Monroe has got to go. So why is he still around?

Sadly, the biggest problem for the Bucks might be a lack of interest in him. Only a few teams were actually linked to the lumbering center–the New Orleans Pelicans, Boston Celtics and Portland Trail Blazers among them.

New Orleans might still be an option, but Boston now has Al Horford and Portland doesn’t have the salary flexibility to pull off a Monroe deal now–they need to wait to trade any of the players they’ve recently signed.

Why wouldn’t more teams want Monroe, if he’s so skilled in the low post? The host of the Lowe Post, Zach Lowe, addressed that in his latest piece on the Orlando Magic:

"The league has arrived at an interesting near-consensus that post-up brutes who struggle on defense work best as reserves. They don’t need studs to create shots, and first-line enemy offenses feast on them. It’s feasible that Al Jefferson, Greg Monroe, Jahlil Okafor, and Vucevic all spend time as reserves. Enes Kanter is already a backup, and the Grizzlies tried to coax Zach Randolph into that role last season. Some folks in Chicago privately wished they could convince Pau Gasol to live that bench life."

Well, that’s not ideal. Lowe is right (of course) in that most players who live down low end up being bench players these days. Even Monroe came off of the bench at times last season.

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With the direction the NBA is currently heading in, low post centers are maybe the least attractive player type left (with the possible exception of guards who can’t shoot). That coupled with the fact that Monroe can bolt after a season makes his trade value low, despite his talent level being high.

It feels like Milwaukee should still be able to find somebody to at least take him away, although the expected returns seem to be dropping by the day. It is still feasible to expect a first round draft pick anywhere close to the lottery?

Teams overpay and underpay all the time so it’s unwise to rule anything out, but it’d be a surprise to see Monroe command a top pick. The Milwaukee Bucks might end up with a pu pu platter in return for the Moose, should they deal him now.

Next: Summer Outlook: Jabari Parker

That might be okay, considering how beneficial getting him out of the paint was to Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jabari Parker last season.

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Milwaukee Bucks: Breaking Up With Greg Monroe Is Hard To Do

By Ti Windisch | Jul 27, 2016

Although it’s very clear he doesn’t fit on the Milwaukee Bucks, Greg Monroe has yet to be traded? Is there a lack of suitors?

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