The Cleveland Cavaliers have two options to shore up their frontline: acquire Jahlil Okafor or Greg Monroe, either via trade or wait until they are bought out by the Philadelphia 76ers and the Phoenix Suns, respectively. However, the Cavaliers can only pick one and according to Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com, they may select Monroe over the younger Okafor. Vardon said the Cavaliers don’t view the 6-foot-10 Okafor as a fit, while the 6-foot-11 Monroe can provide the team with the needed presence in the shaded lane and scoring if needed. The 76ers did not pick up the team option on Okafor’s contract, forcing the center to ask for a trade or a buyout.
However, the 76ers want to trade him so they can get something in return. The Suns acquired Monroe from the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eric Bledsoe trade. The Suns are also planning to trade the 27-year-old Monroe before offering him a buyout of his massive deal. Monroe is set to earn $17.9 million this season before he turns unrestricted free agent in 2018.
Suns plan to test market for Monroe
The Suns will test the market’s interest for Monroe before they ultimately buy out his contract. A seventh overall pick by Detroit in 2010, Monroe played five years with the Pistons where he emerged as a reliable frontline contributor. In his final year with the Pistons, Monroe averaged a double-double with 15.9 points and 10.2 boards in 69 games, with 57 starts.
Monroe’s performance earned him a three-year deal worth $51.4 million with the Bucks. In his first year with the Bucks, Monroe started 67 of 79 games, averaging 15.3 points and 8.8 boards. Monroe’s role changed in his second year as he was relegated to a reserve role. Despite this, Monroe tallied 11.7 points and 6.6 boards in 81 games.
This season, Monroe averaged 6.8 points and 5.0 boards in five games.
Monroe surprised by trade
After his first practice with the Suns, Monroe admitted that he was blindsided by the trade that shipped him, a 2018 protected first-round and a 2018 protected second-round draft pick to Phoenix for Bledsoe. "I honestly didn't have any clue.
But it's what we signed up for. It could happen to anyone at any moment,” said Monroe, per Nick Friedell of ESPN. Monroe said he met with Suns general manager Ryan McDonough and told him that he’s ready to play for the Suns anytime. He also told McDonough that he will accept any move that the team makes regarding his future. Earlier, the Suns traded Bledsoe after he publicly expressed that he wanted out of the team.
