Toronto Raptors: Ranking Raptors players in 2018-19

#11 Greg Monroe

Greg Monroe was the Raptors’ most notable off-season free-agent signing this year.  He was acquired to fill the gap at the backup center spot, left by Jakob Poeltl.

Since Monroe was drafted by the Pistons in 2010, he has spent time with the Milwaukee Bucks, Phoenix Suns, and most recently the Boston Celtics, contributing mostly as a bench player during that time.

Interestingly enough, Monroe is an opponent who has historically dominated Raptors big-men, and used his size to score seemingly at will.

There are two narratives out there that describe Monroe as a player.  One is that he is a fringe starter in the league who has not lived to his potential as of late but is an adept scorer who typically gives a size advantage to whatever front-line he is a part of.

The other is that he is an out-of-shape dinosaur – meaning his old-school style of scoring (with his back to the basket) and his inability to evolve into a modern big-man has made him obsolete.

Of course, as always, the truth lies somewhere in the middle.  Monroe needs to prove that he can be an important part of a winning team, though he did fit into the Celtics’ team culture last year, so for the Raptors, that’s a great sign.

Another plus for the Raptors is that his ability to score in the low-post is something they’ve sorely missed in the past.