AUGUST 13: While the Raptors haven’t yet issued a press release confirming the move, Monroe has officially signed with the club, per the NBA’s transactions log.
AUGUST 6: Free agent center Greg Monroe has agreed to a contract with the Raptors, tweets Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports.
Monroe will get a one-year, $2.2MM deal, Charania adds (Twitter link) and will move from one Eastern Conference contender to another after finishing last season with the Celtics. Monroe will fill the backup center slot, according to Josh Lewenberg of TSN (Twitter link), who reported Toronto’s interest in Monroe last week.
The Raptors had their $5.3MM mid-level exception available, but are concerned about adding to their luxury tax bill. Toronto already had more than $137MM committed for next season before adding Monroe. He will become the 14th player on the roster with a fully or partially guaranteed contract.
An eight-year veteran, Monroe averaged 10.3 points and 6.9 rebounds last season while splitting time between the Bucks, Suns and Celtics. He was sent from Milwaukee to Phoenix in November as part of the Eric Bledsoe deal, then signed with the Celtics in February after agreeing to a buyout.
The addition of Monroe may signal the end of the Raptors’ relationship with Lucas Nogueira, who has been with the organization for the past four seasons. The free agent center got into 49 games last year and scored 2.5 points per night.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Solid addition for the Raptors..He can spell Big V without much of a drop off at all for Toronto. Idk of the exact stats, but it seems the past season or teo, that Toronto has struggled when Val has been off the court.
Now, when he needs some rest, or when he’s in foul trouble, Monroe can step in and fill those big shoes seamlessly..
Both have a similar style of play too so they don’t need to change the game plan when V is on the bench. Great player, except the style of play has changed drastically since he was drafted.
I don’t like this signing, they need a player similar to poeltl not JV.
Championship, this puts them above the Celtics and Warriors. Wow, this must be what it feels like to be Dionis.
Lmao
Monroe is way better than Poeltl, he is a very good player, just hope one day he gets a real chance to shine.
What? Valens comes out high more than Monroe doesn’t he? Monroe is a low post guy I thought, not that similar
Couldn’t get off the bench on a injury ravaged team in Boston looking for a third scoring option. Can’t spell defense
Couldn’t get off the bench for the injury ravaged Celtics who needed a dependable third option on offense. Forget everything he knew about defense