Greg Monroe is expected to get traded and among the potential destinations for the Milwaukee Bucks center is the New Orleans Pelicans, according to the latest NBA rumors.
The Bucks could be on the verge of trading Monroe, whom they signed to a three-year $50 million contract last year in hopes of bringing a veteran presence to a young talented squad. However, the 26-year-old center has struggled to fit in Milwaukee in the past season, leading to many speculations about an imminent trade this offseason.
One possible landing spot for Monroe is the New Orleans Pelicans in a blockbuster trade that could involve Tyreke Evans, according to SB Nation's Oleh Kosel.
In Kosel's trade scenario, the Bucks would send Monroe and Michael Carter-Williams to the Pelicans for Tyreke Evans and Omer Asik or Alexis Ajinca. The Bucks would get veterans who could help in the team's development of their young players, while the Pelicans could form a frontcourt duo of Anthony Davis and Monroe, something ESPN's Zach Lowe claimed New Orleans has been attempting to do.
There is a growing sense the Bucks could really trade Monroe after acquiring another young talent in Thon Maker, who has made an impressive in the summer league. Maker, a 19-year-old Sudanese-Australian who jumped from high school straight the professional league, could offer the same skillset Monroe has offensively only with a better defensive upside.
In a starting lineup consisting of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jabari Parker, Maker seems the perfect fit to slide in along with the aforementioned youngsters. While there are certainly concerns over Maker's strength and physicality, his potential the Bucks hope he has is evidently in full display.
Likewise, the emergence of Buddy Hield, along with the summer acquisitions of E'Twaun Moore and Langston Galloway, should signal the exit of Evans, who was only limited to 25 game last season after suffering a season-ending injury on his right knee.
"With the Pelicans' push to land a point guard, it appears to be a clear sign that they want to upgrade the position with more quality depth and rely less on Tyreke Evans as their primary ball facilitator," John Reid of The Times-Picayune noted.
The Bucks should not find it too hard to find trade partners for Monroe, with plenty of teams looking for an offensive threat inside the paint. It also remains to be seen whether the Pelicans would truly have interest in dealing for Monroe, but it seems deal that could work for both sides.