A Moose in Utah? Greg Monroe and the Jazz Could be a Good Fit

Greg Monroe is going to be an unrestricted free agent next season, and the Utah Jazz would be wise to put him on their list of potential targets.

The Utah Jazz are primed to be players in the free agency market this upcoming offseason, and with Derrick Favors becoming a free agent himself, finding someone to slot next to Rudy Gobert will be a priority. Should the Jazz decide to let Favors walk, there are numerous options available on the market; however, many of them are restricted free agents.

Jabari Parker and Aaron Gordon are two frequently mentioned names,  but they are both restricted and would come with a hefty price tag. While either Parker or Gordon would be exciting signings, people tend to forget that there are still serviceable, and cheaper options available. That’s where Greg Monroe comes into play.

The Story of the Migrating Moose

Greg “Moose” Monroe had a bit of a weird season last year, as he bounced between three teams. He started off in Milwaukee with the Bucks, where he had been for the previous two seasons. His minutes began to dip as time went on, and he was eventually relegated to a bench role. Along with his minutes, his numbers took a hit, which doesn’t look good on paper.

However, if you look at his per 36, you’ll see that statistically, he was right around his career marks.

After only playing in five games for Milwaukee last year, Monroe was traded, along with two conditional picks, to the Phoenix Suns for point guard Eric Bledsoe. While with the Suns, Monroe’s minutes were erratic, but he still managed to be relatively productive. Eventually, the tanking Suns decided that it was best to part with the veteran big man. Monroe then signed with the Celtics in early February, and he remains there as Boston continues through the playoffs.

As mentioned before, this season was a bit tumultuous for Monroe, as he was traded to one team, who eventually released him, and then signed with his current club. All this movement between systems did affect his stats, but Monroe is still an offensively efficient player.

The question is, will Boston re-sign him? It’s looking more and more like they won’t, as he’s played sparingly throughout the playoffs. While that might hurt Monroe when negotiating his new contract, it does make it more likely that he could be an option for the Jazz. All that said, the real question is, what does the future hold for Greg Monroe?

Should he test free agency, the Jazz might be the answer. Let’s look at the pros and cons of Moose potentially joining Utah.

The Pros

He will more than likely be cheaper than other free agent options. This is an important point, as many players on the market are going to command large contracts. Moose’s lack of playing time recently, paired with the fact that he doesn’t stretch the floor like some other big men, could lead to a cheaper deal.

He can play both the power forward and center. This is where things get tricky. Yes, Monroe can play both positions, but his inability to hit the three is arguably his greatest downfall. He’s taken 12 threes in his entire career and has made a whopping zero. Unless he goes through a massive transformation, it’s safe to assume that the long ball will not be a part of his game. That said, Monroe doesn’t need to be a stretch four starter if his contract is affordable enough. He could very well be a serviceable backup to Gobert if nothing else.

Monroe can provide efficient, interior scoring and is an underrated passer. He can bang in the paint with the best of them, and he does so at an exceptional clip. His scoring abilities are well-documented, and he could help either the Jazz first or second unit. The other part of his game that’s strong, and underrated, is his passing. He wasn’t asked to move the ball much in Milwaukee, but he thrives when given the opportunity. Monroe can kick it out to shooters from the paint and provide additional spacing for players on the wing.

Lastly, he’s an excellent Pictionary player. (Note: The final drawing is by far the best)

The Cons

• Moose’s speed undoubtedly leaves much to be desired, and his reputation as being lead-footed isn’t unwarranted. That said, Utah’s system might mask that issue. The Jazz did increase their pace factor by over four points last season compared to 2016-17 season (from 91.6 to 95.7), but that was still 25th in the league. Should he play backup center, this deficiency would more than likely not be a huge issue.
• As mentioned before, his inability to stretch the floor is a significant hindrance. The Jazz ideally need a stretch four, and Moose doesn’t fit that bill. The thing is, he doesn’t need to. If Monroe is cheap enough, then the Jazz could still sign another player to fill that void. It’s possible even to bring back Favors and sign Monroe, but much of that will be dictated by the free agency market.
• His interior defense can be a liability. While Moose has averaged over one steal per game during his career, he is far from being an exceptional defender. However, this is a weakness that could be hidden by an elite Jazz defensive system. Utah’s defensive rating topped the league, and that very well could conceal Monroe’s defensive deficiencies. That said, while Monroe isn’t an elite defender, he isn’t abysmal either.

What should the Jazz do?

First, they need to determine what they want to do with Derrick Favors. They have to figure out how much money they’re willing to commit to him, if any, and then prioritize how they want to fill the other holes on their roster.

The thing with Greg Monroe is that he could very well be signed on the cheap and play behind both Favors and Gobert. Having Moose off the bench would be a massive boon to the second unit, especially when it comes to keeping pressure on opposing defenses.

In the end, it all comes down to money, but the Jazz should definitely watch the market and consider bringing a Moose to Salt Lake City.