Knicks: Top Free Agency Targets After Goran Dragic Trade

Feb 6, 2015; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Detroit Pistons forward

(10) defended by Denver Nuggets forward

(35) during the fourth quarter at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Pistons beat the Nuggets 98-88. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

Greg Monroe, Detroit Pistons

Status: Unrestricted Free Agent

Position: Center

Age: 24

2014-15 Slash Line: .492/.000/.753

2014-15 Season Averages: 30.2 MPG, 15.4 PPG, 10.4 RPG, 2.0 APG, 0.9 SPG

Oftentimes, a star-caliber player coming off of a rookie contract will stay with their original team for the long-term. The primary reason for this is restricted free agency, which enables the incumbent team to match any offer a player receives.

Detroit Pistons star Greg Monroe turned down a long-term deal to gamble on himself and become an unrestricted free agent in 2015.

Monroe is currently at power forward for Detroit, but he’s more of a center playing out of position. He’s very much interior-oriented as a back-to-the-basket finisher who lacks consistency from mid-range.

That limits his immediate appeal, but Monroe is a young and developable player in a class in which the big-name free agents are all floating around or above 30 years old.

At 24, Monroe is in the rare position of receiving a long-term contract with a new team before reaching his prime. Thus, the Knicks can use him in the manner they deem appropriate and develop his skills accordingly.

On paper, Monroe would be the perfect low-block big man in the triangle offense. He’s a skilled player who fits the bill of a traditional Georgetown Hoyas big man from an offensive perspective.

He has work to do on defense, but under big man guru Phil Jackson and head coach Derek Fisher, Monroe could become one of the top centers in the NBA.

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