INQUISITR.COM / Sports

NBA Rumors: Greg Monroe Trade Talks Heat Up As The Milwaukee Bucks Sit Their Asset

By Ernie Howell
Published on: 01:50 PST, Nov 20, 2016

NBA rumors surrounding Milwaukee Bucks center Greg Monroe are heating up again after head coach Jason Kidd made two decisions this week that seemed to reaffirm his team’s lack of commitment to the 26-year-old center.

The latest move came in back-to-back games. In the Milwaukee Bucks’ most recent outing, Greg Monroe played just two minutes in the team’s 124-121 loss to the Golden State Warriors. In Thursday’s 96-73 loss to the Miami Heat, Greg Monroe did not play whatsoever — a coach’s decision according to the box score.

The actions appear to end the three-man center rotation that Milwaukee Bucks coach Jason Kidd has employed to start this season, leaving Greg Monroe out of the competition with fellow big men John Henson and Miles Plumlee. According to a report by Yahoo! Sports, Jason Kidd told reporters that the decision to bench Greg Monroe was made prior to the game against the Miami Heat.

“We talked today about just trying to get two centers. You know, I’m trying to play all three and I think it has an effect on them of short minutes or whatever it may be. So, me and Greg talked today that I was going with the other two centers. We’re going to play two centers [John Henson and Miles Plumlee]. Talking to those guys, I want the best for all three, but they feel like they just can’t get into a rhythm. They get a little frustrated with the short amount of time, so we looked at something different tonight.”

The move was somewhat surprising as Greg Monroe had quietly put together a nice stretch in his first 10 games of the season, statistically speaking. Through 11 games, the former Georgetown Hoya ranks second in rebounds (7.4) and steals (1.4) per game on the Milwaukee Bucks while placing third in several categories: points (9.7), assists (2.7), and blocks (0.6) per outing. His showing easily bested those from John Henson or Miles Plumlee, leading several NBA analysts to consider the trade rumors to be dead in the water.

But another move signaled from Jason Kidd and the Milwaukee Bucks indicates the team might be willing to trade Greg Monroe, according to a report from ESPN. After Jason Kidd named John Henson the starting center over Miles Plumlee, the Milwaukee Bucks head man said the plans moving forward did not including Greg Monroe starting for the squad.

“It’s going to change again at some point. But I think we’re comfortable. John has come with some energy. He’s doing a really good job for us right now.”

ESPN writer Nick Silva surmised that the trade winds were blowing in a direction that might have Greg Monroe leaving the team at some point. Noting both Henson and Plumlee signed extensions over the summer, Silva penned that Greg Monroe was likely to receive the most trade attention over the next two months.

“Of the trio, the Bucks would like to trade Monroe but haven’t found the right deal just yet. Management will likely shop Monroe up until the February trade deadline.”

If the trade rumors were to materialize, several teams could be interested in the young athlete from Harvey, Louisiana. Fansided presented five teams that could have potential interest in trading with the Milwaukee Bucks for Greg Monroe or another of the team’s centers. Among the teams listed as trade partners included the Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets, New Orleans Pelicans and Phoenix Suns, according to the article.

Other big men are being discussed for trades beyond Greg Monroe, according to the Inquisitr. DeMarcus Cousins has the been the subject of many NBA rumors, including new speculation that the Portland Trail Blazers and Denver Nuggets could be interested in the former University of Kentucky athlete. Philadelphia 76ers big man Nerlens Noel is also garnering interest, especially from contenders in the East such as the Boston Celtics and the Toronto Raptors.

What do you think about NBA rumors involving Greg Monroe potentially being traded before the NBA All-Star game this season? Leave your thoughts in the comment section below.

[Featured Image by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images]

Share this article: NBA Rumors: Greg Monroe Trade Talks Heat Up As The Milwaukee Bucks Sit Their Asset
Milwaukee Bucks Jason Kidd
More from Inquisitr