Last summer, Greg Monroe gambled on himself by accepting a one-year qualifying offer with the Detroit Pistons in hopes of earning a max contract. This summer, he’s collecting the payout.
According to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports, Monroe will sign a max deal with the Milwaukee Bucks.
Free agent Greg Monroe will sign a maximum contract with the Milwaukee Bucks, league source tells Yahoo Sports.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 2, 2015
The deal is worth $50 million over three years and contains a player option for the final season, per Wojnarowski.
Monroe racked up 15.9 points and 10.2 rebounds last season, and he’ll provide an interior offensive presence the Bucks sorely lack. Plus, with Jabari Parker still on the mend from an ACL injury, Milwaukee would’ve been relying on Khris Middleton to carry the scoring burden.
Although Monroe isn’t a solid defender, the Bucks have loaded that portion of their roster with disruptive and lengthy players. According to NBA.com, Milwaukee posted the second-best defensive rating last season.
The problem, of course, was the team struggling to the league’s sixth-worst offensive mark. Monroe, a first-round pick in 2010, will help change that deficiency, especially when Parker returns.
Consequent to Monroe’s signing, the Bucks are on track to become a mainstay in the Eastern Conference playoff picture. Milwaukee isn’t yet a championship contender, but the franchise—like its defense—should become a respectable, disruptive force to the NBA’s elite teams.
Photo: USA Today Sports