The New York Knicks and the Boston Celtics reportedly are the top two contenders to sign Detroit Pistons forward Greg Monroe in free agency. Monroe, according to reports, also is being eyed by the San Antonio Spurs.
Monroe is weeks away from hitting unrestricted free agency, and according to Gery Woelfel of the Milwaukee Journal Times, the 25-year-old may have his choices narrowed down to two teams.
"There is strong speculation Monroe will sign with either New York or Boston," Woelfel wrote Friday.
That "speculation" goes along with what has been reported regarding Monroe's free-agency plans. Multiple reports have linked Monroe to the Knicks, with one league executive telling the New York Daily News a Monroe-Knicks deal was "about as close to a done deal as you can get."
"As close to a done deal" implies the two sides have confirmed their mutual interest in each other through backchannels, since an agreed-upon deal would violate NBA tampering rules. Monroe's agent denied the report, but that was to be expected.
Reports also linked Monroe to Boston. Two factors make Boston a strong possibility for Monroe: One, the Celtics need a rim-protecting big man, and two, Monroe admitted in December to having entertained the idea of playing in Boston.
San Antonio has been linked to Monroe as well, but it seems unlikely Monroe would end up there. The Spurs have a number of their own free agents to re-sign, and other outside free agents - such as Marc Gasol, LaMarcus Aldridge and DeAndre Jordan - likely are higher on the team's wish list.
