Rumors about Greg Monroe joining the Golden State Warriors are gaining steam, with the Milwaukee Bucks attempt to unload the 26-year-old center.
Monroe is one of the few veterans available in the trade market, and according to the latest NBA trade rumors, the Warriors could be a potential destination for the Bucks center.
The Warriors were able to retool their roster after signing Kevin Durant and forming a very formidable to team to once again challenge for an NBA championship this season. They also secured their frontcourt after adding David West and Zaza Pachulia following the departures of Andrew Bogut and Festus Ezeli. However, the Warriors is still weak at the five spot, with Pachulia, Anderson Varejao and rookie Damian Jones as the only legit centers they have.
Adding Monroe would provide the Warriors' another versatile big man, who can be an offensive threat inside the paint and make plays for teammates. But ultimately, acquiring Monroe would only solidify the Warriors' strong chance of winning a championship this season.
As intriguing as it may sound to Warriors fans, dealing for Monroe won't be an easy task. According to Weldon Jones of Blue Man Hoop, a fan site hosted by Sports Illustrated, trading for Monroe would mean parting ways with key players like Andre Iguodala and Shaun Livingston, which is unlikely to happen at this point.
"The Golden State Warriors had gave up pretty much the entire farm just to accumulate the fortune to afford Kevin Durant. Greg Monroe is due a hefty 16 million dollars in salary this coming season and the same goes for the next two years of his contract," Jones wrote.
"This 16 million dollars is so hefty because Golden State doesn't quite have it right now. So if they wanted to trade they would probably have to unload salaries such as Andre Iguodala's, and many other role players whom they barely managed to keep in the KD sweepstakes which would be a huge no no for this team if they are looking to win a championship."
Monroe would be a huge boost for the Warriors in terms of frontcourt depth, but giving up solid contributors off the bench isn't the way to go for Golden State, especially if they intend to recapture the title next year. And with the current state of the Warriors' roster, it would be ideal for them to target a rim protector before the trade deadline.
There should still be other teams interested in adding Monroe to their lineup. The Cleveland Cavaliers look like they need to fill a hole at the center spot and Monroe could be the piece to fit the bill.
Monroe has struggled to fit with the Bucks last season and was not the kind of piece the team has hoped him to be after signing the 26-year-old center to a three-year deal worth $50 million. But Bleacher Report's Nate Loop believes Monroe could still be a valuable addition for contending teams.
"He is a strong rebounder and does well with the ball in the low post. He may be better off contributing as a veteran on a contending team, rather than as the center of a young Bucks team looking to play a faster, more agile brand of basketball," Loop wrote.
The Cavs seem a contender who could be in need of Monroe's' services, with Kevin Love struggling the same way Monroe did last season. With limited cap flexibility this summer, the Cavs could only hope for a trade for an added talent.
It is still uncertain whether the Cavs would jump into the chance of acquiring Monroe, but if they do, Love would likely be the centerpiece of any trade deal.
Love would fit well playing alongside the Bucks' core of young talents. His outside shooting would help space the floor and would keep Milwaukee's inside scoring productive.
On the other hand, Monroe could replace Love as the third scoring option behind LeBron James and Kyrie Irving, and could create a fire and ice frontcourt tandem with Tristan Thompson. Monroe's defense should not be a concern as what the Cavs have managed to do with Love.
A straight swap involving Love and Monroe should work, according to ESPN's trade machine, although finding another team could also work for a potential deal involving the Bucks and Cavs.
Adding Monroe would surely neutralize any threat the Warriors have to the Cavs' title reign. While it remains to be seen whether both teams have interests in adding Monroe, he could be an option for both teams if still available by mid-season.