Greg Monroe (Photo : NBAE via Getty Images)
More trade rumors are coming out and a team on the warpath is the Boston Celtics.
After their acquisition of Al Horford, the Celtics are rumored to be ready to pitch their assets on pairing Horford with another star-possibly Blake Griffin.
Should the Cleveland Cavaliers take this sitting down? Even if they are the champions, any shot at improving the team should be considered, as the other teams want to take their shot, the Cavs can't be complacent.
Greg Monroe's trade value has dipped despite his numbers and the Milwaukee Bucks want to trade him. Early in the year, Gerald Bourguet of Hoops Habit thought it would be a good idea for the Cavs to trade for Monroe, with Tristan Thompson as the bait.
The rationale is that the Bucks have given the Golden State Warriors their toughest games early last season and the Warriors' bigs-Andrew Bogut and Draymond Green, have trouble matching up with him.
That could still hold true and a three-way trade scenario with the Boston Celtics. If the Celtics are willing to add future picks (maybe the 2018 Brooklyn Nets' pick, they could send that along with Amir Johnson and Jae Crowder for Kevin Love. The Cavs will take Crowder who will add a versatile defender to the lineup and still use the draft pick as a trade chip. Amir Johnson could go to the Bucks. The trade machine scenario here.
With Monroe and Crowder, the Cavs could shift from small-ball to a more traditional lineup as the need arises. Monroe is a mean low post scorer who can rebound and the Cavs can field him with Channing Frye for floor spacing. Small ball with Tristan Thompson, LeBron James and Crowder can defend a team full of shooters (like the Warriors).
According to analyst Howard Beck in a video from Bleacher Report, the Cavs should still consider trading Kevin Love with the Warriors in consideration. They could add more defenders like Crowder to chase their shooters but with Monroe, they can pound them on the inside.
This trade scenario is purely speculative at this point. The Cavaliers could employ a similar strategy or hold on to Kevin Love despite the suggestions. They are the champions, after all.
