Greg Monroe (Photo : Doug Pensinger | Getty Images Sport)
The Milwaukee Bucks were touted as the breakout team in the East last season.
Despite the injury to prized draft pick Jabari Parker, the Bucks, behind Giannis Antetokounmpo and the much improved Khris Middleton, surprised the league with a playoff appearance.
Thus, when Greg Monroe hit free agency with a desire to win, he decided to join the Bucks in favor of the New York Knicks and other illustrious suitors. The equation is that playoff Bucks plus Monroe and returning Jabari Parker would become East contenders.
The Bucks are now 13th in the Eastern Conference sporting a paltry 7-11 record. This is far from what they envisioned, and Bleacher Report points out that the main culprit is defensive efficiency, as they went from 2nd last season to 30th.
In an article by Keith Smith of Real GM, he pointed out that losing Zaza Pachulia was the main reason for that massive drop. Monroe will get the points and rebounds, but is an offense-minded player. B/R suggested trading him for a defensive big man.
One way to absolve their mistake is to trade Greg Monroe to the LA Lakers' Roy Hibbert. The former Pacers slotman is no longer as intimidating, but he is still more inclined to play "D" than Monroe. Also, he is an expiring contract. If it does not work, they can let him walk at the end of the season.
There are some Bucks fans who believe that John Henson is good enough to play center for them in a small-ball lineup. With the trade for Hibbert, they can revert to that set-up after the season.
For the Lakers, while they lose some of their cap flexibility, Monroe could be part of their long-term future as he is still a double-double machine. This trade would be possible near the deadline, when all trade restrictions have been lifted.
