NBA Trade Rumors: Greg Monroe, Milwaukee Bucks Trade Chatter Addressed

NBA trade rumors about Greg Monroe and the Milwaukee Bucks has been officially addressed. Though more NBA trade rumors have mentioned that the Bucks could move Monroe in the right deal, another confirmation has come out that the team isn’t interested. A report from USA Today on Wednesday, February 17, reveals information from a source who has direct knowledge of the situation.

That USA Today source states that there is “zero chance” the Milwaukee Bucks will trade Greg Monroe before the February 18 NBA trade deadline. That’s really specific news, confirming a previous report by the Inquisitr, which also stated that Jabari Parker was off limits. As the Bucks try to improve the roster, it wouldn’t make a lot of sense to trade a top draft pick (Parker) and a recently signed center (Monroe) in the first year of his new contract.

The Milwaukee Bucks could have a lot of money to spend in free agency during the 2016 NBA offseason, even if the team doesn’t make any moves before the trade deadline. Finding a way to move the contract of Larry Sanders could save the team $5 million more, but the Bucks should be in a decent position when the NBA salary cap gets increased again. The core of Greg Monroe, Khris Middleton, Jabari Parker, Michael Carter-Williams, and Giannis Antetokounmpo are all locked up through at least next year.

The 2015-16 NBA season hasn’t gone as planned for the Bucks, which is why the team has appeared in so many NBA trade rumors. After finishing the 2014-15 NBA season with a 41-41 record and clinching a sixth seed in the NBA Playoffs, the team had plans of making the postseason again. It hasn’t gone as planned, though, with the Bucks dipping to a 22-32 record at the All-Star break. The team still has an outside shot at catching the Charlotte Hornets (27-26) for the eighth seed, but another visit to the NBA Lottery is probably closer to taking place.

In a recent NBA mock draft, the Milwaukee Bucks were slotted as the eighth pick overall. The team was projected to select Kentucky guard Jamal Murray with that pick, giving the team a good player to slot at shooting guard next season. Other players who could be on the board when the Bucks select include Utah center Jakob Poeltl, California forwards Ivan Rabb and Jaylen Brown, and Michigan State power forward Deyonta Davis. The Bucks will also have a shot at moving up in the lottery for a chance to draft either LSU forward Ben Simmons or Duke forward Brandon Ingram.

There are still a number of teams that would like to acquire center Greg Monroe at the NBA trade deadline, but those teams would have to overwhelm the Milwaukee Bucks. Offering a pick that could be in the lottery could certainly garner attention, but other than that, the Bucks may want to hold on to Monroe for a while. It has been tough for the team to lure free agents to Milwaukee, so dealing Monroe right after he signed could just make the situation worse for the front office.

At this point, fans shouldn’t expect the Bucks to make any major moves before the February 18 deadline. Smaller moves could be made that include OJ Mayo, Greivis Vasquez, or Jerryd Bayless, but only if it nets the team a future draft pick. That’s certainly possible if another franchise has spare second-round picks in the 2016 NBA Draft. There have been other NBA trade rumors involving point guard Michael Carter-Williams going to the Houston Rockets for Ty Lawson, but that could take away salary cap space for next year.

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