NBA Rumors: Analyzing Chatter Surrounding Greg Monroe, Tobias Harris and More
With the NBA trade deadline having come and gone, much of the league has settled into the routine of the season's home stretch.
For the teams chasing the playoffs and the Larry O'Brien trophy, the concerns are all short-term, with issues to solve and news to evaluate on a nightly basis. For those franchises on a race to the bottom, or rather firmly on the outside looking in when it comes to the postseason hunt, the behind-the-scenes discussions may range from the next game to free agency to next season.
The NBA rumor mill follows suit now that just about every team knows its identity this season. With that in mind, let's take a look at some of the latest chatter from around the Association.
Greg Monroe and Tobias Harris
Yes, the Greg Monroe saga carries on. The 24-year-old power forward becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer and has yet to sign a long-term contract with the Pistons. While the team appears intent on retaining Monroe, his tenure in the Motor City has had its fair share of ups and downs.
The Pistons have yet to make the playoffs during Monroe's tenure, and the big man was forced into playing in an awkward frontcourt trio with Andre Drummond and Josh Smith.
Should Monroe hit the open market this summer, the New York Knicks are one of his likely many suitors that league executives believe could snag the big man, per Marc Berman of the New York Post.
The report also mentions Orlando's Tobias Harris as a possible target: "Despite all the talk about the Knicks’ 2015 cap space, several league executives think they’re going to have a hard time landing players given their bleak situation. They do believe the Knicks have a legitimate shot at two guys — Long Island’s Tobias Harris and Monroe."
From that article, it sounds like the Knicks might end up chasing after Monroe and/or Harris hard, especially if they want to hasten their ascent from the NBA's cellar.
While some of the pressure that had forced Monroe into an uncomfortable scheme has been alleviated—namely, the Pistons waiving Smith—there is still the chance that he can best blossom elsewhere in the NBA and the Pistons can't retain him this summer.
| Before | 26 | 29.0 | 14.7 | .482 | 8.8 | 1.7 | 24.1 | 99.1 |
| After | 31 | 32.3 | 16.6 | .503 | 11.9 | 2.2 | 23.6 | 105.0 |
Detroit does seem like a better place to call home than it did in the beginning of the season. After a 5-23 start, the Pistons have gone 18-13 and are just two games back of the eighth playoff seed in the East.
The acquisition of Reggie Jackson gives them another possible building block for the future—assuming they re-sign the impending free agent—although it remains to be seen how he will fit in the backcourt alongside the injured Brandon Jennings. Drummond is a rebounding machine and one of the league's best young centers.
Monroe's camp has not ruled out returning to the Pistons this offseason despite long-term contract talks stalling out last summer. Monroe's agent, David Falk, said Detroit was "absolutely, absolutely" a possibility for Monroe, per MLive.com's David Mayo.
Harris is averaging 16.9 points and 6.5 rebounds this season with the Orlando Magic. The 22-year-old could be set for a big pay raise as a restricted free agent this summer. He's making approximately $2.3 million this season, per Spotrac. It also appears the Magic know exactly what type of commodity they have on their hands.
After spending some time coming off the bench in January, Harris has been a fixture in Orlando's starting lineup when available, averaging 17.3 points in 37.8 minutes per contest in February, via Basketball-Reference.com. Those minutes might be hard to come by in New York, where Harris could be playing understudy at times to Carmelo Anthony.
Of course, money may not be the main concern for Harris. According to a January article from Berman, a source says the Knicks are at the top of Harris' free-agency wish list.
Monroe will almost assuredly have other serious suitors beyond the Knicks, but staying in Detroit is a much more appealing option now than it was in late 2014.
As for Harris, the lure of coming home could prove to be quite tantalizing and the one advantage the Knicks will have over other suitors. But the decision may ultimately come down to how the Magic view their budding restricted free agent and the overall market for his services.
Nate Robinson to the Bulls?
While the Chicago Bulls are in no danger of slipping out of the Eastern Conference playoffs, there is a need for this team to find stability as it heads into the postseason now that hard-luck point guard Derrick Rose is out for an extended period of time with a knee injury.
One possible solution to their floor-general conundrum is Nate Robinson, a free agent after having his contract bought out by the Boston Celtics, who acquired him in a trade with Denver in mid-January. RealGM.com's Shams Charania reports that Robinson and the Bulls have held exploratory talks:
"The Chicago Bulls have held exploratory conversations with free agent guard Nate Robinson as a potential roster addition, league sources told RealGM.
Discussions have yet to advance, but the Bulls were made aware Tuesday night that Robinson has a strong desire to sign with the franchise. Robinson is a natural fit for the roster, familiar with its core players and coaching staff.
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Robinson suited up for the Bulls during the 2012-13 season, appearing in all 82 games—starting 23—averaging 13.1 points and 4.4 assists per game while shooting 40.5 percent from beyond the arc. He then went to Denver and acquitted himself well last season before suffering a severe drop-off in production in this campaign.
| 2011-12 | GSW | 51 | 17.2 | .424 | .365 | 3.0 | 7.0 | 1.8 |
| 2012-13 | CHI | 82 | 18.5 | .433 | .405 | 3.2 | 6.2 | 1.5 |
| 2013-14 | DEN | 44 | 19.0 | .428 | .377 | 3.4 | 4.7 | 1.5 |
| 2014-15 | DEN | 33 | 14.9 | .348 | .261 | 3.0 | 6.0 | 1.1 |
At 30 years old, Robinson should still have plenty of mileage left on his well-traveled legs (he's played for six teams in his career). He would appear to be an ideal option for the Bulls considering his familiarity with the roster, city and coach Tom Thibodeau's system. Whether or not the team feels the need to sign another player is up for debate.
In 14 games without Rose this season, the Bulls are a respectable 8-6. They could very well get along fine in a diluted Eastern Conference. Robinson's height relegates him to point-guard-only duty; his presence doesn't necessarily help overtaxed players at other positions.
Plus, Rose is expected back in four to six weeks, per a report from NBA.com's Sam Smith, a timetable that David Haugh of the Chicago Tribune notes may be sending a message to Rose:
"Intentionally or not, the Bulls wisely got out in front of this one. It was smart to avoid vagueness so it wasn't left up to Rose to decide when his body told him he was well enough to play again. Subtly, the Bulls underscored the belief that the mental challenges of this recovery exceeded the physical. Doing so let everybody know, including players in the locker room, that the goals the Bulls had before Rose's surgery will exist when he comes back.
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In any case, the Bulls may have to act quickly to get Robinson, as he could very well end up a step closer to playing for every team in the league if left on the open market for too long.
