Detroit Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy is expected to trade center Greg Monroe in the offseason. After the frontcourt of Monroe, Josh Smith and Andre Drummond failed to produce, Monroe reportedly is the most likely candidate to be dealt this summer.
Van Gundy officially agreed to terms on Wednesday to become the Piston's new head coach and president of basketball operations. With Van Gundy having the power to shape the team, ESPN Insider Bradford Doolittle expects one of the coach's first decisions may be to trade Monroe.
"Van Gundy's primary task over the summer will be to define the Pistons' core and determine the style of basketball that goes with it," Doolittle wrote on Wednesday. "A big part of that will be whether he decides to break up the big front line, which could lead to a sign-and-trade deal sending away restricted free-agent Monroe to balance the roster.
"The Pistons have up to $21.8 million in cap space available, so cashing in on Monroe could bring back a high-level player - and salary - in return."
Monroe, Smith and Drummond failed to produce the dominant frontcourt Detroit had hoped for when signing Smith to a $54 million contract last summer.
Smith's hefty contract makes it difficult to move him, and Drummond is a young player with a lot of upside. That leaves Monroe, who becomes a restricted free agent on July 1 and is reportedly seeking a max deal, the odd man out.
Trading Monroe would allow Smith to shift back to his natural power forward position, and Van Gundy would have a Dwight Howard-esque center to work with in Drummond.
If Van Gundy did decide to split up his frontcourt, he would likely find a market willing to trade for Monroe.
One potential destination could be the Washington Wizards, if they are unable to re-sign center Marcin Gortat. Washington reportedly was interested in Monroe earlier in the season and planned either to trade for him or to pursue him in free agency.
