According to the latest Milwaukee Bucks rumors, the team is looking at trading Greg Monroe, yet again.
Greg Monroe‘s Milwaukee career has featured a lot of him being featured in Milwaukee Bucks rumors, and that apparently hasn’t changed now that he’s opted into the last year of his deal with the Bucks.
According to ESPN’s Ian Begley, the Bucks are looking at trading Moose yet again, something that’s been reported repeatedly over most of Monroe’s Milwaukee career.
One move Bucks are trying to accomplish at the moment: moving Greg Monroe, per sources. They've been trying to do so on and off for a while.
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) July 1, 2017
It’s no secret that the Bucks need to clear some cap room–or, more correctly, get farther from the luxury tax that is suddenly quite close. As I wrote earlier, the Milwaukee Bucks are in salary cap hell.
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The moves that many have expected the Bucks to make are moving one or more of Matthew Dellavedova, Mirza Teletovic, and John Henson. All three of those players are reserves, and all of them make something around $10 million for the next two seasons at least.
Monroe actually makes more sense than any of them, if you ignore that he’s one of the best players on the team and was essential to Milwaukee’s success last season, which you probably shouldn’t do. Moose anchored Milwaukee’s bench, and was probably the second-best player on the team.
Still, he’s slated to make nearly $18 million next season, and he should theoretically have some trade value. Monroe is good, and he proved last season he’s an improved defender. After defense being a knock on Monroe for the entirety of his NBA career, that’s huge for him.
He also did a good job of providing some spacing, hitting mid-range jumpers although his range never extended to the three-point line. That could happen someday–Brook Lopez and Marc Gasol weren’t three-point shooters until last season, and both of them proved to be capable marksmen.
Monroe averaged 11.7 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.1 steals per game in just 22.5 minutes. His numbers look quiet compared to past Moose seasons, but he was actually as or even more productive than ever, averaging 18.8 points, 10.5 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.8 steals per 36 minutes.
Monroe shot 53.3 percent from the field, a solid mark considering over 40 percent of his field goal attempts came from farther than three feet from the rim. Moose has been through tough times in his two seasons with the Bucks, but he was essential last season, and should’ve garnered more Sixth Man of the Year buzz.
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With Thon Maker taking over as the starter, it’s possible Monroe would have less of a role next season. Still, he’s a good player, definitely better than Delly, Telly, or Henson. Losing Moose would certainly make the Bucks worse next season.