Greg Monroe: Would Bucks move him to Raptors?

I’m still searching for a true complement to Jonas Valanciunas as the Raptors gear up for the playoffs.

The biggest coup for many years in Milwaukee was the signing of free-agent power forward Greg Monroe this past summer. The Bucks had enjoyed an out-of-nowhere leap into the playoffs with a 41-41 record. Despite getting punched out in six games by the Chicago Bulls, folks in Wisconsin thought this season would finally be the one in which NBA teams would Fear the Deer.

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They brought Monroe into the fold, and what’s been the result? Boasting(?) a 22-32 record, the Bucks will need a miracle to sniff the post-season. There’s been considerable speculation about whether the Bucks plan to throw in the towel and trade Monroe, as the only needle-moving his presence has provided them is in the wrong direction. How should Toronto Raptors GM Masai Ujiri react to an “Are you interested?” call from Milwaukee GM John Hammond?

Dec 11, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry (7) dribbles the ball around Milwaukee Bucks center Greg Monroe (15) in the fourth quarter at Air Canada Centre. Raptors beat Bucks 90 – 83. Mandatory Credit: Peter Llewellyn-USA TODAY Sports /

Monroe stands nearly seven feet tall, and weighs in at a muscular 265 pounds. He’s in his sixth NBA season out of Georgetown, a school which has produced a number of excellent big men. This season he’s averaging 16.7 points and nearly 10 rebounds per game, numbers in line with his career norms. He’s earning $16.7 million in this, the first of a three-year deal he signed after leaving the Detroit Pistons.

There’s a lot to like about Greg Monroe. He’s consistent almost to a fault, and that includes knowing what he can’t do; Greg is the antithesis of a stretch-4, having never attempted a 3-point shot. Greg is very difficult to stop when he gets the ball down low. He can put the ball on the floor, and has enough post moves to penetrate almost at will. He averages 30 minutes a night, and is seldom hurt.

I have two big problems with Monroe: he’s never given me the feeling he’s committed to defense, and he’s played exactly zero All-Star or playoff games. Taking the second point first; I wonder if he’s one of those players who’s happy to cash his cheques and coast on natural gifts. If so, and if he won’t defend to the degree demanded by Dwane Casey, bringing him to Toronto may be a disaster.

Let’s run a trade proposal anyway, and see how the numbers work.

The Trade Machine says that, while the money works, the Raptors are gaining eight wins, and the Bucks are losing seven. I suspect that’s due to the weight the program gives to Monroe’s sparkling PER of 23.1, and why I’ve added the Knicks’ pick owed to the Raptors in this year’s draft.

Analysis

Obviously we’re giving up a lot – or are we? I know the potential lottery pick is a valuable commodity, but we’re hip-deep in young players. Hammond would be a fool not to insist on receiving it. Scola is in the Raptors’ starting unit only because someone has to, and the others are rotation players. We would be leaning a lot on the remaining kids, like Norman Powell, Anthony Bennett and Bruno Caboclo, while hoping for a full and fast return of DeMarre Carroll. I can see a lot of small ball being played.

However, we’re getting the best player in the trade, someone who can start tomorrow. A front court of Monroe and Jonas Valanciunas would be perhaps the strongest pair in team history.

Would I do this deal if I were in Masai’s chair? Yes.

Next: Which teams might Raptors trade with?

What about you, Rapture Nation? Is this the deal you’ve been waiting for? Comments please.

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