Boston Celtics rumors: 3 reasons Greg Monroe is a great fit for C’s
Update [Friday 1:07 p.m.]: According to Adrian Wojnarowski via Twitter, the Boston Celtics will sign Greg Monroe to a 1-year, $5 million deal.
Following a buyout with the Phoenix Suns, veteran center Greg Monroe is available and the Boston Celtics are at the top of his list.
The Boston Celtics may finally have a chance to land center Greg Monroe.
On Tuesday, the big man agreed to a contract buyout with the Phoenix Suns, making him an unrestricted free agent. With the $8.4 disabled player exception the team was granted after the Gordon Hayward injury, the Celtics have the most money to offer Monroe. They also present the best opportunity for him to win. But, overall, is Monroe a good fit for this current Celtics team?
I think he would be. With the New Orleans Pelicans also expected to be at the top of his list following the season-ending injury to DeMarcus Cousins, Greg Monroe could be what the Celtics need to push them into the NBA Finals and really challenge the Golden State Warriors or whoever comes out of the West.
Sure, playing alongside Anthony Davis is intriguing, but he would have more of an opportunity to compete for a championship in Boston. The following three reasons are why I think he would be a great fit.
Upgrade at the center position
Despite perceptions that Monroe lacks effort on the defensive end, the Boston Celtics have the type of team he can strive in. So far this season, the 27-yer-old Monroe has averaged 11.2 points and 8 rebounds in 23 minutes per game with the Phoenix Suns. Those numbers would be a significant upgrade from what the team gets from Aron Baynes.
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The Australian big man has provided the Celtics with rebounding and rim protection, but his lack of an offensive game hurts the offense at times. With an offensive force like Greg Monroe down low, opposing teams will have to account for his offense. That would open things up even more for a prolific scorer like Kyrie Irving.
Front court depth
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Although Brad Stevens loves to play small, having another big body could help the team when they face teams like the Detroit Pistons and Philadelphia 76ers. Big men Andre Drummond and Joel Embiid have had their way down low when facing Boston. Even Enes Kanter has dominated the boards when facing the Celtics.
If motivated defensively and on the boards, Greg Monroe could help limit their production. Of course, if they go up against the Cleveland Cavaliers again, the combination of Baynes and Monroe could keep Tristian Thompson off the boards.
More versatility
A scoring big man like Greg Monroe would actually make the Boston Celtics a more versatile team. With Monroe down low, Al Horford could play a lot more of that stretch four Stevens loves.
It will also allow rookie Daniel Theis to play more of the four, which I believe will make him even more effective defensively and certainly offensively.
None of this is to take away from what both Aron Baynes and Theis have done for the team this season. But, adding another veteran big man gives Stevens more options. He can go big against a team like Cleveland or Philadelphia and he could go small.
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Overall, a starting lineup of Kyrie Irving, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Al Horford and Greg Monroe is very intriguing. The challenge would be Monroe buying in to the team concept that has made the Boston Celtics successful under Brad Stevens.