Free-agent center Greg Monroe agreed to a max deal with the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday.
According to Yahoo Sports, the deal is for three years and $50 million. The deal does include a player option after the second season. Monroe will make $15.8 million next season, and 16.5 million in 2016-17. The player option is worth $17.2 million. He was one of the most sought after free agents, as the Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks were interested in him and met with him this week.
Monroe was drafted by the Detroit Piston in the 2010 draft. He had spent his entire five year NBA career with the Pistons. He averaged 15.9 points, 2.1 assists, 1.1 steals, and a career-high 10.2 rebounds with the Pistons last season, according to ESPN. Monroe is one of four players who have averaged at least 15 points and nine rebounds in each of the last four seasons. DeMarcus Cousins, Kevin Love, and Dwight Howard are the other three players.
Monroe has never made it to the playoffs and chose the Bucks because he believes that they have the best chance at making the playoffs immediately. It will be interesting to see if Monroe makes the playoffs for the first time in his career in his first season with the Bucks. Monroe can’t officially sign with the Bucks until the NBA’s free agent moratorium ends on July 9.