Pistons free agent center Greg Monroe said Sunday he will meet with five teams this week, including the Knicks, and said he wants to play for a club ready to win. He also seemed to be campaigning to stay in his hometown.
Monroe, who is from Louisiana, said at his basketball clinic in New Orleans hes looking for a two-year deal with an opt-out after one season to take advantage of the coming rise of the salary cap.
According to the Baton Rouge (La.) Advocate, Monroe will speak with the Knicks, Celtics, Bucks, and Blazers with the Pistons out of the picture. Free agency begins Wednesday.
Im looking to be with a team thats ready to win, Monroe told the newspaper. Hopefully it will be a team where Im the missing piece.-NYPOST
Meanwhile, USA Today reports that the Mavericks, Lakers, and Knicks will join the Clippers in holding meetings with Jordan, while the Bucks unfortunately for the were unable to pique the big man's interest.
The 26-year-old free agent center who spent his first seven seasons with the Clippers is clearly giving serious thought to changing jerseys, as three people with knowledge of his situation said he is expected to meet with at least four teams the Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks in the first few days of free agency. The meetings are expected to take place in the Los Angeles office where Jordan's representatives, Dan Fegan and Happy Walters of Relativity Sports, are based. The people spoke to USA TODAY Sports on the condition of anonymity because of the private nature of the process.
NJ.com
Jeremy Lin, who was the most celebrated athlete in New York in 2011 when he became a surprise starter with the Knicks and ignited "Linsanity," could be returning to New York during free agency.
The point guard, who, while playing for the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers, hasn't achieved the success he had in New York, could be a Knicks target as they look for inexpensive, short-term players to form a bridge to the future during a total rebuilding of the organization.
When he returned to the Garden with the Lakers in April, Lin played 24 minutes and scored just four points in a 92-80 loss.
"Every time I come back, I always have great memories," Lin said then. "I remember those great times. I'm always thankful. Coming back to New York with these fans at the Garden, that was very special to me and I'll always cherish that."
Caron Butler
After his release from the Milwaukee Bucks before July 1, Caron Butler has emerged as a candidate for the Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Clippers and San Antonio Spurs, a league source told RealGM.
The Lakers and New York Knicks also expect to make an inquiry on Butler, a 13-year NBA veteran who has averaged 14.3 points and 5.1 rebounds for his career.
David Aldridge & #10004;@daldridgetnt
An under the radar free agent will be Dallas' Al-Faroqu Aminu. Sked to visit NYK, BOS, POR, TOR & NOP, w/Mavs still in mix.
What does LeBron care about Thompson's representation? He may want TT back, but I cant picture it being because they share an agent.
all 4 will not be on the roster next year.
What does LeBron care about Thompson's representation? He may want TT back, but I cant picture it being because they share an agent.
Thompson and Lebron are very close, it is more than just shring the same agent, he wants Thompson back
all 4 will not be on the roster next year.
You wonder if they will trade Love to Boston for smart/bradley. Boston has 1,000 guards again. Smart and Bradley would be valuable pickups for Cleveland.
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many of these guys are going to sign the 2 year deal with the opt out next year to tap into the new TV money. Next Summer could be the craziest FA signing period in the history of professional sports.
The "wait for new TV money" thing doesnt make sense for some guys. Sure, for an allstar you want the higher max. And for guys getting squeezed out of a market because there isnt enough available UFA money just yet.
But wtf are the expectations of a guy like Monroe? If he gets a max it is because the cap is going up next season. He's not suddenly going to be worth $22+ million next year. He should take his 60/4 with an opt out and be happy and protected from injury. Whereas someone like Butler should wait.
That's true, but it seems like they want to test the odds. Why else would Monroe say he wants to sign a 2 year deal with the player option? I am wondering how many teams are going to basically say that's nice that you want that, but you either sign the 4 year $60 million or you can take a hike.
Smart has upside. Bradley does not. But both would make Cleveland instantly better. And they will still have Thomas, Turner, Rozier, and the other guy they just drafted.
He may make sense on a 1+1 to a team that is trying to compete next season, but for the Knicks a 1+1 is just a hassle. We're building for 2016-17.
Kyrie/Smart
Bradley/Crowder
Lebron
TT/Varejao
Mozgov
Thats a solid 8 man playoff rotation for Cleveland.
He may make sense on a 1+1 to a team that is trying to compete next season, but for the Knicks a 1+1 is just a hassle. We're building for 2016-17.
I agree with you. I am just saying if a team puts effort into signing a guy and wants to lock him up long term and he says I want the 1+1 just to take the chance at a bigger payday it could be interesting to see who blinks.
In the case of Monroe... he's 25 years old and just entering what is considered the prime years of his career. I wouldn't want to be the team that he uses to enhance his market value only to watch him walk next year.
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the value proposition really changes with the opt out. It's one thing to lock down Monroe for 60/4 -- you have a guy to build around. May be worth it, may not. Maybe you end up trading him. Make it a 1+1. Then you cant structure things around having a piece in place. You cant fully commit to guys that play well with Monroe. And you only have him for 2016-17 if he suck nuts.
He may make sense on a 1+1 to a team that is trying to compete next season, but for the Knicks a 1+1 is just a hassle. We're building for 2016-17.
I agree with you. I am just saying if a team puts effort into signing a guy and wants to lock him up long term and he says I want the 1+1 just to take the chance at a bigger payday it could be interesting to see who blinks.
In the case of Monroe... he's 25 years old and just entering what is considered the prime years of his career. I wouldn't want to be the team that he uses to enhance his market value only to watch him walk next year.
why? what is lost in that situation? Sure, you'd prefer stability but it's unlikely that you'd regret signing him even for a short time because he'd be extremely motivated. The guy that signs him to a 4 year -80 M deal after his one and done year is taking a much bigger risk that he pulls an Eddy Curry.
Agree with that. Don't want to work with the hassle of having to re-sign him for more next year, which could tie up the salary cap we were planning on using to fill out the rest of our roster.
But I'll say it again. What other team would bend over backwards for Monroe? I see him as a fit in NY because they need a low post passer and someone besides Melo that can get you a basket if you gave the rock to him in the post.
Portland looks like its preparing for a complete rebuild with the trade for Plumlee and Vonleh, and if they get back Splitter in a sign and trade for Aldridge, then theres no room for Monroe. Plus, Portland lives off a run and gun system which is why I think leonard is a better fit as a 40% 3 point shooter than Monroe.
A Randle/Monroe or Parker/Monroe doesn't make sense on defense for either the Lakers or the Bucks. I can't see Milwaukee clearing out cap space when Jason Kidd is trying to build a "positionless" basketball system where there guys can constantly switch from the 1-4 and still be fine on defense. Monroe is the antithesis of that.
That leaves Boston. I don't see Ainge in a position where he is going to give Monroe whatever he wants because he struck out on Cousins and Love. He has Zeller, Sully, and olynk who are all younger than Monroe. Monroe will help them win 3 or 4 more games, and I don't think they are looking for a quick fix to move up 1 seed. If anything, they are realizing that making the playoffs doesn't really get them anywhere because they are a roster full of good role players, and it doesn't look like next years Nets pick is going to be what everyone thought it would be 2 years ago.
Lebron has the owner and the franchise by the balls, he wields as much power as conceivably possible and is a master at leveraging it within this franchise. He is going to force Dan Gilbert to spend into the luxury tax, and Gilbert has the pockets to do it. The cap couldn't be rising at a better time for them. One of the top 3-4 reasons why Lebron left Miami in the first place was the cheapness of Micky Arison and his avoidance of going deep into the tax despite the hundreds of millions of dollars that Lebrons presence helped the franchise value. It wasn't the top reason but it was a major reason, and I couldn't be more positive that paying luxury tax was a condition he laid out before Dan Gilbert as a promise to secure his signing. And he is in a position to make Dan Gilbert pay for not meeting that promise, even if no one actually expects him to leave, they won't call his bluff
Grizzlies officials will be in Spain when free agency begins to meet with Gasol, very optimistic will return to Memphis.
why? what is lost in that situation? Sure, you'd prefer stability but it's unlikely that you'd regret signing him even for a short time because he'd be extremely motivated. The guy that signs him to a 4 year -80 M deal after his one and done year is taking a much bigger risk that he pulls an Eddy Curry.
If he opts out again next year his max is going to be a lot greater with greater increases year to year...
So signing him to a 4 year max now is a lot more beneficial then him signing a 4 year max next year...
4 year max this off season is a bargain come next off season..
How would that trade make any sense? Thompson is going to get a huge deal, and all of a sudden his value goes away
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If so, fucking do it NOW!
How would that trade make any sense? Thompson is going to get a huge deal, and all of a sudden his value goes away
just like green, carroll and every perceived 3 and D guy to ever play. the minute they get paid and out of their comfort zone they lose value. and that is why drafting is so key... as if you notice thematically all of these type players are found late round 1 or round 2 types...
They just need to stay healthy. 4 straight years now Lebron has had injuries have significant effects on his team in the postseason. He has horrible luck in such matters. It was the biggest reason he left Miami and their age for the Cavs youth, only to have it worse than ever this season. Irving and Love's injury prone history is a big concern
Hearing that the Heat now expect Luol Deng to opt for free agency and join Dwyane Wade on the open market come Wednesday
The expectation leaguewide is that Goran Dragic is basically a lock to stay with the Heat. D-Wade and Deng ... not as lock-y as we thought
Alan Hahn retweeted Ari Fantis
No, they weren't "fake" reports. It was information presented by sources...with agenda. Don't shoot the messenger.
On if Knicks want to trade Melo
Alan Hahn @alanhahn 11m11 minutes ago
Alan Hahn retweeted Jonathan P. Aigen
Absolutely, positively not. But, as I've said, a few around Melo never wanted him to stay here. #sabotage
Lebron has had infinitely worse injury/support luck among his teams in postseason than any of the other guys who are in contention for top 10 all time. Name me the comparable 4 year consecutive run of playoff health issues a player of that status has had to deal with supporting cast injuries. It's a major impact.
2012 he didn't have Bosh for half the playoffs and Wade was playing with a knee issue that required offseason surgery.
2013 Wade was borderline useless in the postseason averaging just 15 ppg on shaky efficiency playing through a knee issue that required offseason electro therapy that would force him on a total minutes restriction the entire next season so his knee didn't spontaneously combust
2014- Wade was shot physically by the finals and had absolutely nothing to offer against San Antonio
2015- literally unprecedented level of physically carnage
There isn't a comparable 4 year stretch of supporting cast health like this in the playoffs. He wasted his first 7 seasons on garbage casts, and now that he has been an active participant in control his own destiny post decision 1.0, they've had horrible injury luck
shocker as well that love and kyrie got hurt... those guys are durable...
But other teams have injuries too. Pacers played without their best player all year. Bulls didnt have Rose for 3 years in the playoffs along with Noah constantly hurt and Pau being banged up this year, OKC's injuries have rivaled anyone's the last few years.
The point is other teams are injured too. This year GS played in every round the other teams PG either being hurt or out.
Its one problem when joining other teams. Wade has never played 80 games in his career. And in 2006-2007 missed over 30 games. Wade was due to decline. The Bosh injury was unfortuante, but they still found a way to win the title despite it.
He was unlucky this year that his other two stars went down in the playoffs. But I dont think a team like OKC gave them much sympathy. They lost all 3 of their all-stars at one point during the year. 2 of them for the huge stretch run.
If Chicago trades Rose to the Knicks, is it the Knicks "undue luck" when Rose eventually sprains his fingernail and misses the post season? No, it would be a shitty decision by the Knicks. Was it "undue luck" that Amare was injured year after year?
Not upset we won't be adding him
because people entertain his comments.
Same problem New Orleans is facing with Asik this year and Charlotte will be facing next year with Batum.
If Chicago trades Rose to the Knicks, is it the Knicks "undue luck" when Rose eventually sprains his fingernail and misses the post season? No, it would be a shitty decision by the Knicks. Was it "undue luck" that Amare was injured year after year?
I wouldn't call either decision he made a shitty decision considering what the alternative would have been. Even with the injury luck. If you want to blast him for choosing to play with guys who had a checkered injury history without weighing the alternative, go ahead. But none of this is really relevant to gauging his basketball impact, which by any measure is in the ball park of anyone who has ever played for the better part of the last 7 years. His only the failing was 2011. Every other season he absolutely maxed out with his supporting cast and then some, considering both lack of talent in some circumstances and injuries in others
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is that his "undue luck" is partly by his own designs. He chose to play with injury prone players (Wade, Love, Irving) so it's not really bad "luck" that those players continue to get hurt.
If Chicago trades Rose to the Knicks, is it the Knicks "undue luck" when Rose eventually sprains his fingernail and misses the post season? No, it would be a shitty decision by the Knicks. Was it "undue luck" that Amare was injured year after year?
I wouldn't call either decision he made a shitty decision considering what the alternative would have been. Even with the injury luck. If you want to blast him for choosing to play with guys who had a checkered injury history without weighing the alternative, go ahead. But none of this is really relevant to gauging his basketball impact, which by any measure is in the ball park of anyone who has ever played for the better part of the last 7 years. His only the failing was 2011. Every other season he absolutely maxed out with his supporting cast and then some, considering both lack of talent in some circumstances and injuries in others
He most certainly didnt maxout in this years finals. You and I both know that. He didnt cost him the finals, but it was probably the 2nd worst finals he ever played in.
When you talk about 5, 6 and 7 championships before stepping on the court together once and win 2 by the skin of your nutsack, that can be considered a failure.
re: the Heat decision - he could've signed anywhere or brought just about anyone with him to the Heat. Riley would've had no issues kicking Wade to the curb in exchange for Lebron.
Link - ( New Window )
Cant I say, "well if Tony Parker's hamstring wasnt being held together by a string, maybe the Spurs beat them in the 2013 finals."
It has to work both ways.
He was playing to the local homers because that's what Miami is, a city of homers and bandwagon jumpers.
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In comment 12347859 giants#1 said:
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is that his "undue luck" is partly by his own designs. He chose to play with injury prone players (Wade, Love, Irving) so it's not really bad "luck" that those players continue to get hurt.
If Chicago trades Rose to the Knicks, is it the Knicks "undue luck" when Rose eventually sprains his fingernail and misses the post season? No, it would be a shitty decision by the Knicks. Was it "undue luck" that Amare was injured year after year?
I wouldn't call either decision he made a shitty decision considering what the alternative would have been. Even with the injury luck. If you want to blast him for choosing to play with guys who had a checkered injury history without weighing the alternative, go ahead. But none of this is really relevant to gauging his basketball impact, which by any measure is in the ball park of anyone who has ever played for the better part of the last 7 years. His only the failing was 2011. Every other season he absolutely maxed out with his supporting cast and then some, considering both lack of talent in some circumstances and injuries in others
He most certainly didnt maxout in this years finals. You and I both know that. He didnt cost him the finals, but it was probably the 2nd worst finals he ever played in.
Whether or not this was LBJ's second worst finals has nothing do with the argument. Kate Upton would be the second best looking girl in a room with only her and Charlotte McKinney, but her relative standing would tell us little about her quality.