Greg Monroe Suspended 2 Games: Latest Details, Comments and Reaction

Updates from Wednesday, Sept. 10

MLive's Gus Burns has the latest details on Monroe:

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Huntington Woods police released video footage of the Feb. 13 stop and arrest, which stemmed from a defective headlight, on Wednesday.

"I'm just trying not to be in the newspaper," Monroe is heard saying to the officers during transport to the jail.

"I play for the Pistons," Monroe said.

"You play for the Detroit Pistons," asks one of the officers in the vehicle. "Unless you told people that are going to tell people, we don't tell people," an officer is heard saying.

Monroe failed the field sobriety test, missing a letter while reciting the alphabet with "slow and deliberate speech," swaying when asked to count backwards to 78 from 100 and unable to walk a straight line, the report says.

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Original Text

The NBA announced Detroit Pistons forward Greg Monroe is suspended for the first two games of the 2014-15 season after pleading guilty to a charge of driving while visibly impaired.   

Ryan Field of Fox Sports 1 passed along the league's decision Tuesday:

Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today provided statements from both the player and the team:

No further information about the incident that led to the charge and suspension was released. The two-game absence will be without pay.

CPA Robert Raiola of O'Connor Davies noted the financial details:

Paul Coro of AZCentral.com broke down how the NBA concluded two games was the right punishment:

The announcement comes one day after Monroe officially signed a one-year qualifying offer to keep him with the Pistons for another season. By signing the contract, he's eligible to become an unrestricted free agent next offseason.   

Monroe averaged 15.2 points and 9.3 rebounds last season while appearing in all 82 games. He's only missed three regular-season games in four seasons since Detroit drafted him in the first round of the 2010 NBA draft.

Mark Duncan/Associated Press

It's obviously a situation he would have liked to avoid as he prepares for a crucial season in terms of playing for his next contract. That said, missing two games at the beginning of a very long regular season shouldn't have a major impact.

Jonas Jerebko will probably see a brief uptick in minutes to start the campaign. The Pistons can also slide Josh Smith to power forward alongside Andre Drummond since they have depth at the 3 with Caron Butler and Kyle Singler.

As long as Monroe is able to avoid the negative spotlight any further, the incident shouldn't impact his status in negotiations with Detroit or with other teams on the open market next summer.