Detroit Pistons forward Greg Monroe reportedly wants a trade, something which he denied shortly after the report surfaced Monday. Regardless of whether Monroe is actively pushing for a trade, teams reportedly interested in acquiring him before the deadline include the Boston Celtics, the Atlanta Hawks and the Phoenix Suns.
Rumors circulated during the offseason Monroe wanted out of Detroit after he declined several of the team's lucrative offers, instead opting to sign a one-year qualifying offer that would make him an unrestricted free agent in July 2015. Those rumors of his discontent in Detroit ignited again on Monday when Sean Deveney of Sporting News reported the 24-year-old forward "badly" wanted to be dealt.
"According to NBA rules, Pistons forward Greg Monroe is now eligible to be traded. And, sources told Sporting News, he wants that, badly," Deveney wrote. "But teams seeking Monroe will need to cough up a first-round pick, and that's a sticking point."
Monroe so desperately wants out of the Motor City that he would be willing to waive his no-trade clause, according to Deveney.
"(Invoking his trade veto) won't happen, a source with knowledge of the situation told Sporting News," Deveney wrote. "Detroit is off to a brutal 5-19 start, and Monroe would be happy to exit stage left - though the Pistons want a first-rounder to help with their rebuilding in return."
"Everyone knows he wants out of there," a source told Sporting News. "There is almost nothing he would shoot down."
Monroe's agent reportedly had several sign-and-trades in place this summer, but Detroit rebuffed the potential deals.
When told of the report on Monday, Monroe told the Detroit News he knew nothing of it and called the rumors "annoying."
ESPN listed Boston, Atlanta and Phoenix as three teams who could send first-round picks over to Detroit for Monroe. If Monroe plays out the season in Detroit and hits free agency in July, he's likely to draw interested from the Los Angeles Lakers, the New York Knicks and the Washington Wizards.
