NBA Rumors: Greg Monroe Wants To Be Traded To New Orleans Pelicans

While it is not the case for every NBA player, some actually do want to go home. According to NBC Sports, Louisiana native Greg Monroe wants to be traded to the New Orleans Pelicans. The Milwaukee Bucks have been shopping the 6-foot-11 center around because he is not a good fit with their system.

In 1990, Greg Monroe was born in New Orleans. He played high school basketball at Helen Cox High School in in Harvey. Much of his life was spent in the state of Louisiana until he decided to head off to play college basketball with the Georgetown Hoyas in Washington, D.C.

In 2015, Greg Monroe shocked the NBA when he decided to sign a free agent contract with the Milwaukee Bucks after leaving the Detroit Pistons, as reported by ESPN. Many were under the impression that he would choose the big market New York Knicks. Not a lot of big name free agents choose to play in Wisconsin.

#Bucks #NBARumors: Greg Monroe Wants #Pelicans https://t.co/POJyrxTOU6 — @teapester725 via @HoopsHabit

— HoopsHabit (@HoopsHabit) July 31, 2016

Greg Monroe is an old school center in the NBA. Rather than facing the basket from the perimeter, he prefers to do his damage with his back to the basket. Monroe would have been a tremendous fit back in the days when Patrick Ewing, Dikembe Mutombo, and Rony Seikaly were around.

With the Milwaukee Bucks shifting towards building one of the most athletic rosters in the NBA, Greg Monroe slowly became less appealing to the franchise. His style of play actually was the opposite of what the team needed as a fit with the perimeter guys.

Since Greg Monroe does not possess the ability to shoot from the perimeter, opposing NBA defenses have an advantage on the Milwaukee Bucks. Usually, defenders can simply sink into the paint to protect the rim whenever Monroe steps outside. That makes it harder for the Bucks to drive into the lane.

More than anything else right now, the Milwaukee Bucks want the middle of the court to be cleared so that Giannis Antetokounmpo can become one of the biggest stars in the NBA. Though he is 6-foot-11, he has the skills of a point guard, which can create quite the mismatch for the Bucks.

In 2014, the Milwaukee Bucks selected Jabari Parker from Duke University with the second overall pick in the NBA Draft. He does a lot of his damage in the paint, so clearing out Greg Monroe would be quite beneficial towards his development.

Then, there is Thon Maker, whom the Milwaukee Bucks selected with the 10th overall pick in the NBA Draft this year. He is 7-foot-1, but he also has the skills of a guard. The Bucks envision terrorizing the league by having Maker and Giannis Antetokounmpo bursting their way through the paint.

Despite having one of the best players in the NBA in Anthony Davis, the New Orleans Pelicans are one of those teams that appear destined to be stuck in the middle of the pack for the foreseeable future. That is why management is hoping to add as much talent around Davis as they can.

The best front court partner for Greg Monroe is someone that can play strong defense and shoot from the perimeter. That is exactly what Anthony Davis is. His strengths can help make Monroe an asset again. In return, Monroe can help alleviate the offensive burden from Davis.

It is just a matter of time before Greg Monroe becomes the next NBA player to be traded. The Milwaukee Bucks are holding out for hope that some executive is going to be desperate enough to give up a good amount of assets to acquire the 26-year-old center.

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