The Detroit Pistons started a frontcourt trio of Andre Drummond, Josh Smith and Greg Monroe last season. After a 29-53 season complete with trade rumors and an 11th place finish in the weak Eastern Conference, it seems that experiment is over.
Stan Van Gundy has taken over as head coach in Detroit. In the Pistons' first preseason game against the Chicago Bulls, Van Gundy started Smith at power forward and brought Monroe off the bench as the backup center. Could this be the future depth chart for the Pistons? If so, Monroe has accepted his new role.
"I don't have to handle it. I have to play," Monroe told The Detroit News. "That's not gonna change, whether I start or come off the bench, how I play. He (Van Gundy) makes the decision. I'm gonna play."
Van Gundy has a 371-208 record as a head coach in the NBA, so he might know just a thing or two about quality basketball.
Monroe signed a one-year qualifying offer for $5.47 million with Detroit this offseason after the two sides failed to come to an agreement on a contract extension. Monroe will be an unrestricted free agent next offseason. However, the 24-year-old may be wearing a new jersey before the new year.
"This is likely Monroe's last season with the Pistons and many executives believe Van Gundy will shop him from Dec. 15 until the February trade deadline since he can leave for nothing in the summer," wrote ESPN's Nick Borges.
Monroe did play center before being drafted by the Pistons and "some feel that might be his best position," Borges wrote. Moving Monroe would free up the logjam in Detroit's frontcourt, and would allow players to return to their natural positions.
Monroe started all 82 games for the Pistons last year and averaged 15.2 points and 9.3 rebounds per game.
