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NBA Trade Rumors: Stars Available for the Knicks to Acquire

By Maxwell Ogden

Nov 24, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Jeff Teague (0, center) greets guard Thabo Sefolosha (25) and center Al Horford (15) during a timeout in the fourth quarter of their game against the Boston Celtics at Philips Arena. The Hawks won 121-97. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 24, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Jeff Teague (0, center) greets guard Thabo Sefolosha (25) and center Al Horford (15) during a timeout in the fourth quarter of their game against the Boston Celtics at Philips Arena. The Hawks won 121-97. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 5, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Milwaukee Bucks center Greg Monroe (15) warms up prior to the game against the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 5, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Milwaukee Bucks center Greg Monroe (15) warms up prior to the game against the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports /

Greg Monroe, Milwaukee Bucks

Position: Center

Age: 25

Remaining Salary: $51,437,513

Contract Expires: Player Option for 2017-18

Slash Line: .521/.000/.745

Season Averages: 30.5 MPG, 16.7 PPG, 9.7 RPG, 3.1 ORPG, 2.3 APG, 0.9 BPG, 0.9 SPG

Entering the 2015 period of NBA free agency, the general consensus was that Greg Monroe to the New York Knicks was a done deal. In a decision that was likely fueled by the media’s reporting, which could’ve easily been conceived as condescension, Monroe opted to sign with the Milwaukee Bucks.

Less than 60 games into that experiment, Gery Woelfl of The Racine Journal Times reports that Milwaukee is shopping Monroe around the trade market.

"…the Bucks have made it known that center Greg Monroe is available at the right price, according to some NBA officials. The Bucks created a major splash last summer when they signed Monroe as a free agent, outbidding mega-market teams like the New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers."

If the asking price isn’t too ridiculous, Phil Jackson should at least consider acquiring the player he coveted this past summer.

Monroe doesn’t have much range offensively, but he’s a low-post force to be reckoned with. He has an intriguing array of moves with his back to the basket, which has helped him become the nightly double-double threat that he is in Milwaukee and was with the Detroit Pistons.

Kristaps Porzingis is coming along at a rapid pace, and Robin Lopez has been solid, but Monroe could be the missing piece who sends New York back to the postseason.

Lopez’s selflessness and leadership could prove attractive to a young Bucks squad in need of just that. Thus, a swap of Lopez for Monroe, albeit with some additional pieces, could net the Knicks a young and talented frontcourt to build the Triangle Offense around.

Monroe is still inconsistent on defense, but it’s a testament to his maturity that, in the midst of a 22-32 season, he’s made significant strides on that end.

Next: All-Star Point Guard

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