Recent rumors have emerged that the New Orleans Pelicans could target Milwaukee Bucks center Greg Monroe as the NBA's trade season draws near.
Monroe, 26, has been one of the league's best players at his position in the past couple of years. He was considered as a franchise player in Detroit before deciding to join Milwaukee in the summer of 2015 via free-agency.
The Bucks signed him to a three-year, $50 million deal at that time and was expected to complete the preferred starting lineup of head coach Jason Kidd.
However, things did not go according to plan as Monroe was proven to be an ill-fit with Milwaukee's young stars, namely Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, Jabari Parker, and John Henson. Monroe is a traditional center that likes to play with his back to the basket in offense and is a step slower than the rest of his teammates in defense.
He produced his regular numbers last season, averaging 15.3 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game, but his evident incompatibility with the other starters made Kidd decide to let him come off the bench at the start of the current season.
Things got worse when he was further relegated down Milwaukee's bench as the third-string center and was left to play with a career-low 17.6 minutes per game so far this season, sparking rumors that he could be traded soon, according to Bleacher Report.
FanRag Sports suggested a trade to the Pelicans could solve Kidd and the Bucks' current issues with Monroe and will give the former Georgetown standout a chance to restart his career as well.
New Orleans is struggling this season with a 7-12 record and is 12th in the Western Conference standings. Anthony Davis remains to be the only bright spot for the Pelicans and having Monroe could potentially form a deadly twin-tower combination for head coach Alvin Gentry's side.
Davis could finally go back to his preferred power forward spot while Monroe will man the center position again as a starter.
While Monroe is still an offensive force and a consistent double-double performer that is yet to reach his prime, it remains to be seen whether the Pelicans are ready to receive his weaknesses as well especially in the defensive end.