Stan Van Gundy, who is the president and head coach of the Detroit Pistons, stated throughout the year that he’d love to have power forward Greg Monroe back in the fold next season. Monroe will hit unrestricted free agency on July 1st after electing to sign a qualifying offer with Detroit last summer in lieu of a long-term deal, and Van Gundy believes that Monroe may have played his final game as a Piston.
Stan Van Gundy concedes the Detroit Pistons are “not entirely optimistic” about bringing Greg Monroe back this offseason.
Van Gundy, Detroit’s coach and team president, says the door isn’t closed, but Monroe can test the open market this offseason as an unrestricted free agent.
Monroe is coming off a stellar season for the Pistons, one in which he averaged 15.9 points, 10.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game. It appears as if both sides are prepping for a breakup, with Monroe eager to assess his options and Detroit trading for power forward Ersan Illyasova earlier this month.
The acquisition of Illyasova will enable the Pistons to play a specific brand of basketball centered around big man Andre Drummond, whom Detroit hopes develops into their “guy.” Van Gundy found success with the Orlando Magic by flanking a young Dwight Howard with an army of shooters, and it appears as if he’s looking to do the same with Drummond in Detroit.
Greg Monroe has spent the first five years of his career with the Pistons, averaging 14.3 points, 9.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game. He is 25-years-old.
