Greg Monroe chose Bucks over Knicks, Lakers for playoff potential
The Los Angeles Lakers are not the only storied NBA franchise that is struggling to attract free agents this offseason.
On Thursday, Greg Monroe agreed to a three-year, $50 million deal with the Milwaukee Bucks that includes a player option after the second season. The 25-year-old turned down the New York Knicks, Lakers and others to join a smaller market team that he believes is better suited for success in the future.
A free agent joining the Bucks over the Knicks and Lakers proves how much times have changed in the NBA. In fact, Monroe’s agent David Falk told NBA.com’s David Aldridge that the Knicks offered his client a max contract with any number of allowable years that he wanted, but Monroe still turned it down.
Monroe, who averaged 15.9 points and 10.2 rebounds per game with the Detroit Pistons last season, will join a young core of players that includes Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jabari Parker and Michael Carter-Williams. The Bucks reached the playoffs last season in their first year under Jason Kidd and were eliminated in the first round.
If someone had told you years that the Bucks would have an easier time attracting free agents than the Knicks and Spurs in the future, you would have probably laughed.
