Detroit Pistons forward Greg Monroe and Utah Jazz Enes Kanter appear unlikely to be traded before the Feb. 19 deadline. Separate reports indicate both players are expected to stay put, but for different reasons.
Monroe is playing on a one-year qualifying offer and will become a free agent in the summer. Despite all signs pointing to Monroe bolting in the offseason, Pistons coach and president Stan Van Gundy insisted Monroe, who has the option to veto any trade this season, is staying put.
"It's not gonna happen," Van Gundy said, via the Detroit News. "I don't know where Greg's head will be in the offseason, but we're still hopeful of Greg Monroe for the long term. And with him going into free agency, you won't get a lot, maybe a pick. I'm not gonna walk in that locker room and give up a piece like that and then tell the guys we're trying to make the playoffs. They deserve the chance to ride this out. You never say never to anything, but I can tell you about 99.9 percent, Greg Monroe's not going anywhere."
Kanter is also expected to remain in Utah this season, but for a different reason.
"One big problem for Kanter, who hopes to be traded, is that there has been little to no interest from other teams, the Deseret News has been told," Jody Genessy of The News wrote Thursday.
Teams purportedly are also wary of dealing with Kanter's agent, fellow Turk Max Ergul. Kanter's discontent with Utah, meanwhile, stems from "how he's been used" in Utah and his lack of playing time, according to Genessy. His frustrations have reached the point that his camp has reportedly made it known to the Jazz that Kanter wants to be traded.
After failing to reach an agreement for an extension, Kanter will become a restricted free agent in July.
