Greg Monroe (Photo : NBAE via Getty Images)
The New York Knicks are rumored to have shown interest in Greg Monroe, but the Charlotte Hornets may have more leverage in a potential deal for the Milwaukee Bucks center.
Monroe, has been increasingly available in the trade market, with the Bucks actively shopping the 26-year-old center. According to Sam Amico of Hoops Rumors, the New York Knicks have shown interests in trading for Monroe, but would likely require another team to realize any potential deal.
"The Knicks would likely need a third team to help facilitate a trade for Monroe and more likely would need to wait until at least December, sources said," Amico wrote.
The Knicks do not have much to offer the Bucks for the services of Monroe. Kristaps Porzingis and Carmelo Anthony are certainly the untouchables, while the team's summer acquisitions won't be eligible for a trade until December. The only signed player the Knicks could trade is Kyle O'Quinn, who surely won't be enough to make a deal into fruition.
That being said, it is highly unlikely the Knicks would get Monroe this offseason. But one team who has a more realistic chance is the Charlotte Hornets.
According to Howard Beck of Bleacher Report, Charlotte is a destination that makes the most sense for Monroe, especially after the Hornets lost Al Jefferson to free agency.
Monroe and Jefferson have an identical skillset, with the two mostly thriving in a slow-paced half-court type of offense. As Beck noted, the Hornets were able to make effective plays for Jefferson, implying that the same thing could be done to a younger and more athletic center like Monroe.
Monroe's defense would surely be a factor, but the acquisition of Roy Hibbert should cover up any of the former's defensive liabilities.
One possible trade scenario is sending Michael Kidd-Gilchrist to the Bucks for Monroe, a deal which works on ESPN's trade machine.
Kidd-Gilchrist, who is coming off a shoulder surgery, has never been known as an outside threat, but his athleticism should be a valuable addition to the Bucks.
Kidd-Gilchrist only played seven games for the Hornets last season due to injuries, but would still make as a valuable trade asset if proven healthy.
It remains to be seen whether the Bucks would entertain such offers, but it seems a deal worth considering if Milwaukee truly wants to move on from Monroe.
