With all the drama surrounding Eric Bledsoe and the Suns, a move had to be made. After days of fans stressing and debating over who the new addition(s) would be, the move was finally made and the Suns shipped Bledsoe to Milwaukee for Greg Monroe in addition to first and second round draft picks.
The big questions now are whether or not Monroe is good for the team and if the Suns gave up too much for him.
Greg Monroe
For the short period of time the season has been underway, Monroe has averaged 6.8 points, 5 rebounds and, 1 assist on 15 minutes of play. While those definitely are not All-Star numbers, he is playing at a solid level. However, for a big name free agent when he was signed after several stellar years in Detroit, Monroe had had a good majority of his minutes taken away from him in Milwaukee with young, up-and-coming players like John Henson and Thon Maker on the team. If you were to play Monroe roughly 25 minutes per game, he would average 11.3 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.6 assists. In fact, his per-36 stats are a more than adequate 15.5 points and 11.4 rebounds per game.
Was it a bad deal?
The Suns acquired Greg Monroe along with a protected first-round and a protected second-round 2018 draft pick. For a team that is fully committed to rebuilding, getting those draft picks was key. Although the pick won’t be all too good, it can be used to bring in more young talent, or could be used to make a deal with another team.
In the three games Bledsoe played this season, he averaged 15.7 points, 2.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists. Bledsoe was disgruntled in Phoenix and it showed in his play. This season was set to be Bledsoe’s worst statistical year with the Suns. Pairing what Phoenix got for Bledsoe and his poor performance and unhappiness, this trade is a solid trade, even though it was not the blockbuster trade fans had hoped for.
Next: What are the chances the Suns get the Milwaukee first round pick in 2018?
Can Monroe fit with the Suns?
With an old Tyson Chandler and a few bigs who can be extremely inconsistent, Greg Monroe can easily start on this team. He can score when you need him too and he can grab rebound after rebound all game. While Monroe certainly is not the young athletic type like Chriss or Bender, his experience and hustle will be a great fit in the Suns’ front court. Some speculate that Monroe will be traded eventually or be waved before ever suiting up, but I feel that if the Suns retain him tat he can make a big impact on the court and help this struggling team win a few games.
Trade Grade: B